Cravats

"Cravat" is a general term that covers the myriad styles of neck adornment that have evolved throughout history. Ties and bowties are modern forms of the cravat. One of the favoured early forms of cravat that is still worn today is known as an ascot.

Changing with the fashions cravats, at various stages, incorporated tassels and plaids, bows, ribbons and embroidery with knots called 'Mathematical', 'Irish', 'Hunting' etc. Sometimes the intricate folding and knotting could take up to an hour and involved starching the cloth first. Combined with a period of high stiff collars there was a period in history when the well dressed man had a lot of trouble simply turning his head.

The most commonly known form of the cravat that still exists today is known as an Ascot. Following historical tradition really any scarf like strip of fabric can be tied around the neck and called a cravat but the ascot of today is conveniently pre-pleated at the back to sit neatly and then has a generous width of fabric at the front to be loosely tied and tucked into shirt or jacket.

The Aya Kawa ascot was created especially for the Turner from the Tate: The Making of a Master. Currently showing at the Art gallery of South Australia.The fabric used in the collection was designed by Lynn Elzinga-Henry and the cravats are created in her Adelaide Hills studio.