When the thirty-year war
(1618-1648) was raging in Europe, Croatian soldiers were
also drawn into this tragedy. Under the leadership of their
Vice-Roys (Croatian ban) they arrived as far as Paris. The
Croatian traditional military dress included picturesque
scarves tied round the neck in a distinctive manner. This
handsome «Croatian style» captivated the fastidious French
so that, during the reign of Louis XIV, they, too, adopted
new fashion item worn «a la Croate». This expression soon
become the root of the new French word «cravate». Thus the
tie entered the bourgeois fashion of the time as a sign of
cultivation and elegance and went on to conquer the whole
Europe and, today, the entire civilized world.
Cravat - modern invention of
the Croatian soldier
Handmade silk ties are
among the best known Croatian souvenirs. At the beginning
the cravat (tie) was a kerchief worn by Croatian soldiers in
the 17th century. In the 18th century it became part of the
traditional male national costume. After that it entered the
fashion and became a modern fashion accessory.
The cravat, due to its originality, was accepted by
Parisians as symbol of progress. During the French
Revolution, black ties were worn as a sign of protest
against backward, i.e. obsolete ideas.
Regardless of its form, the tie grew into a recognizable
souvenir which will always be a reminder of its homeland
Croatia!
