It remains a standing fact that how the East has often influenced the West – from spirituality, life philosophies, and little nuances of our lifestyles. So, it’s not really a surprise when we see fashion statements and styles in modern clothing that once had an oriental heritage. Take the Mandarin collar style for instance.
It’s an easy guess from the name itself that it originated in China. But that’s not all about this iconic style.
This short, unfolded, stand-up collar on shirts and jackets is said to have originated in Manchuria, during the domination of the famous Qing dynasty in 17th- century China.
The noblemen and bureaucrats, often called the Mandarins, used to sports clothes with this collar style.
The word Mandarin was influenced by the Portuguese term “mandar” meaning “command or order”.
Needless to say, the Chinese bureaucrats were the most powerful people and this collar style became synonymous with power, prestige, and a sign of nobility.
Very progressive for its time, Mandarin collars were and still are unisex. For women, however, the button would be replaced with a silk loop and knot.
With British colonial expansion, this oriental trend quickly spread to the occident, through other parts of Asia.
In India, the style transformed into a band-collar style, sported by J.L Nehru, the first PM of Independent India, and thus it started to bear his name.
In the United States, the army used a version of this style and the modern military still uses it for their combat uniforms.
Whether it was the Chinese royalty, the Indian politicians, the American army, or the millennial trendsetters, the Mandarin collar style speaks of a fashion concept that has traveled through time.
It was not only the aristocracy but also its practicality and minimalistic design that made the Mandarin collar a popular trend around the world.
Throughout its journey, the Mandarin Collar has seen many adaptations and usage, but its characteristics have remained the same – a mark of honor and sophistication.
