Many believe the word "cravat" (meaning a soft necktie) comes from the French interpretation of "Croate," short for "Croatian."Croatia is believed to have given birth to the necktie. Sometime during the 1630s or 1640s, Croatian mercenaries involved in the Thirty Years' War visited King Louis XIV of France. The king was very impressed by the soldiers' traditional uniforms, which featured soft scarves tied around their necks. By 1650, Louis and his court were wearing Croatian neck scarves instead of the full lace ruffs that had previously been fashionable. (Sophia news agency, 08.09.2006.)
CROATA NECKTIES, WOREN BY FAMOUS PEOPLE!
Croata neckties are gladly worn by businessmen, sportsmen, cultural elite and politicians... It is known that Gerhard Schröeder, Helmut Kohl, Hans Dietrich Genscher, Boris Becker and many others wear Croata neckties.In the documentary film "Cravat" which was produced by Academia Cravatica and Croatian national television, Klaus Kinkel said that Germans have always enjoyed Dalmatian wine and Croatian neckties. To confirm this statement he showed his own necktie and it was of course, the Croata necktie ...Also interesting is the example of the Austrian prime minister Wolfgang Schuessel, famous for wearing bow ties. When he became prime minister he started wearing neckties, also from the Croata collection.Joschka Fischer spoke very eloquently about Croatian and Austrian friendship. In the spring of 2002, at the meeting with the Croatian Government he gave a speech on the subject of cooperation improvement between two nations and mentioned a friendship that have for centuries kept us close together. During the informal meeting afterwards press representatives reported him saying that he also wears Croatian neckties, a symbol of Croatian nation. Naturally it was the Croata necktie.These are just some examples that evidently show the importance of a necktie, not just as the part of clothing that helps one look elegant and sofisticated, but also as a communication medium which transmits a message
TIED TO TRADITION
Where do you think neckties originated? If France or Italy come to mind, think again. And think Croatia. Michelle and Stephen Crocker are the Australian distributors for Croata ties and accessories, and say that many people are surprised to learn that Croatia is the mother country of the tie. “It is as synonymous with Croatia, as coffee is to Brazil or watches are to Switzerland”, Michelle says. The country proudly produces neckties and scarves of high-quality silks and cottons with modern and classic designs that reflect Europe’s past.
