The History Of The Pocket Square

Ancient man started simple weaving 35,000 years ago, and 18,000 years ago the bone needle was developed. In the middle of the 4th millennium BCE the first linen fabrics used for ceremonial pocket squares were found at Hierakonpolis.

- Opinder Kaur Sekhon

A handkerchief used as a purely decorative accessory in a suit pocket, it is then called a pocket square. It is also an important accessory in many folk dances in many regions like the Balkans, Middle East and in Indian folk dances.

The Littlest Thing Makes the Biggest Difference!

The pocket square is the single most indispensable tool for defining a man of style these days. The pocket square look remained a mainstream fashion accessory for men. Mostly used with suits to add a touch of class and sophistication, pocket squares often separated the ‘gentlemen’ from the ‘unrefined layman’. The pocket square is usually the last thing you put on when wearing a blazer/suit, like the icing on the cake.

Some people believe that the pocket square in one form or another can trace its origins back to ancient Egypt where small linen cloths were dyed with a red powder that indicated they were used for decorative purposes and as an example of wealth. There are also those that trace it back to the Ancient Greeks who carried a cloth with scented perfume in order to ensure they always had a pleasant smell nearby or the Romans who used pieces of cloth to start the Gladiatorial Games, with the event starting when the Emperor dropped his handkerchief. Some claim the first use of a handkerchief being worn as an accessory was in 800’s where members of the Catholic Church would attach a white handkerchief to their left arm as a representation of their devotion to God and their church or that King.