Many conquests in the history of mankind fade into oblivion over time, while some that are never mentioned in history books leave echoes of planetary proportions. One such conquest was undertaken by the Croats in the 17th century from the shores of the Adriatic Sea, and its consequences are still present today all over the world. They influence the everyday lives of 600 million people who, around their necks—between shirt and jacket—wear the ever-present symbol of that nation, like the embrace of a friend.

Did you know that Croatia is the homeland of the tie?

In his book La Grande Histoire de la Cravate (Flammarion, Paris, 1994), François Chaille describes the emergence of this clothing symbol and its later spread in the following way:

“(...) Around 1635, some 6,000 soldiers and knights arrived in Paris in support of Louis XIII. Among them were many Croatian mercenaries who, led by their ban, remained in the service of the French king.

The traditional Croatian uniform attracted attention because of the colorful scarves tied around the neck in a very distinctive way. These scarves were made of various materials, from coarse fabrics worn by common soldiers to silk and fine cotton worn by officers. This elegant ‘Croatian style’ immediately captivated the French, who were amazed by this new garment, completely unknown in Europe until then.

For gallant French officers fighting in the Thirty Years’ War, the Croatian scarf also had a notable practical advantage. Lace collars had to be white and carefully starched. The scarf, worn tied around the neck and hanging freely, required no special care, which was extremely convenient in wartime. Moreover, neck scarves, in addition to their practicality, appeared just as elegant when combined with other ornaments as the stiff, high collars whose wear was further complicated by the long and abundant hair of soldiers.

Around 1650, during the reign of Louis XIV, this fashion innovation ‘à la croate’ was adopted in France, primarily at court, where military ornamentation was often embraced. The expression soon became the root of the French word cravate. This new detail quickly became fashionable among the bourgeoisie of the time as a symbol of culture and elegance.

The fashion trend was brought to England by Charles II upon his return from exile, and ten years later the new fashion detail conquered all of Europe, as well as most of the colonies on the American continent (...).”

Since then, the word croata has been present in many languages as the root of the word “tie” (in English, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, etc.). Croatia is the homeland of the tie, just as France is the homeland of haute couture, Brazil of coffee, Switzerland of cheese and watches, and Portugal of port wine.

For those seeking an authentic Croatian tie, all roads lead to Zagreb.