Shawls - What is a Shawl?

A shawl is piece of fabric typically draped over the head, the upper body, or the shoulders. The practical use of a shawl is mainly to protect the body from cold by adding a layer of warmth to a person's clothing. It can be made from different types of fabric such as lace, silk, cotton or the softest wool. Shawls also vary in shape, including triangular, rectangular, and square. Traditionally in some countries, women are using shawls for religious purposes, but nowadays more fashionable women are wearing shawls as a fashion accessory.

What is a shawl? A shawl is basically a single piece of cloth or fabric that is usually elongated and used to cover up the upper region of the human body during cold weather. It has been in existence for over a millennium, as stated by historians, and throughout its history, people have also found many new ways to make the most out of it as well as new ways of manufacturing it.

In terms of manufacturing, shawls back in the day were usually made out of cashmere and other expensive fabrics such as silk. This made its texture extremely smooth but also made it available only to the wealthy, upper class families. Eventually, some people had an idea and decided to make shawls out of other fabrics and thus, there were cotton, wool and polyester versions that circulated. This gave people from all walks of like the chance to use shawls to keep themselves warm.

Nowadays, shawls are not just used to keep warm but it is also used to make fashion statements. Its form has begun to overtake its function as celebrities and designers use shawls to jazz up their outfits. In effect, new and exciting ways of using shawls have come up. People no longer just wear it around their neck or wrap it over their head. They wrap around their whole body, use it as a bandeau, mix it and match it with a whole bunch of other accessories. At the same time, shawl designs have come a long way ranging from outrageous ones to beaded or bejeweled ones.

So the question must be asked again, what is a shawl? Today, a shawl is much more than what it was in the beginning. It is not longer your simple piece of cloth that is used to warm you up. It is one very versatile garment that people have innovatively applied to different aspects of their lives. The practicality has definitely paved its way in the past but today, its style is what is keeping it alive.

There are even times when it is not used for fashion anymore. Shawls that are old and out of date can be used as old rags or covers for unused furniture. Other times, the fabric is recycled to be used in upholstering other things. Either way, the point is, the shawl that was once known before has evolved and become so much more than what it used to be.