History of Shawls
Shawls, scarves, wraps, throws, and kerchiefs have all been a traditional article of clothing, as well as an ornamental piece of art, for an innumerable amount of cultures spanning across the globe and throughout time. The multipurpose clothing, accessories, and decorations have only gained more popularity as time goes on. The word shawl is actually native to Persian culture, and is derived from the word “Shal” (quite a stretch, huh?) The use of the word, and the shawls importance in Persian culture lead many to believe this garment originated in Persia. However this is hard to verify. The design, and idea, or a loose fitting cloth draped over the shoulders, or waist has been seen in many cultures traditional clothing.Wherever it originated it is our (slightly biased) opinion that the best shawls you can find are the wool, and silk variety of Russian shawls. Traditional Russian shawls, and textiles in general, were once produced in large quantities by a plethora of shawl factories in Russia. With the harsh Russian winters, and a culture known for its distinct, and practical fashion, there's no question of why a warm, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, natural wool shawl was so popular throughout the country. As we enter the modern age of globalization many of these shawl factories have become unprofitable as skilled labor from Asia could produce the same quality for a cheaper price. There is however one exception, one Russian shawl factory which produced shawls of such a fine quality that replicas and knock-offs would not be suitable, this staple of Russian culture is where all our Russian wool, and silk shawls and scarves are imported from: the Pavlovo Posad Shawl factory located in the Russian town of the same name.
Imported from Russia, these shawls are the most versatile fashion accessory you will ever own. Wear it on your head, around your neck, over your shoulders, around your waste, or any other way you can think of. Or just use it to decorate your home. The uses of these shawls are only limited by your imagination and sense of style. All of our shawls come from the famous Pavlovo Posad Shawl Factory. We feature some tips, and ideas on how to wear our large Russian Shawls and how to wear our smaller Russian Shawls as well!
