Bows have been around for a very long time. . .maybe even since the time of cave dwellers.
Recognize her?
Now, I don’t know the actual truth of the above statement, as there was no written language at the time; and I don’t believe a hair bow adorned any characters found in ancient cave art, but logical thinking leads me to believe that they must have been used as easy release fasteners for clothing and other things long before the invention of bone sewing needles or buttons… or some type of sinew or plant-based thread.
Tying a bow requires only a few more steps than tying a plain knot (and it is so much more useful for many purposes because of how easy it is to untie) so learning the rudimentary steps must have become a necessary skill for most people in the beginnings of civilization. I would posit that, at that time, most materials used for tying things would have been crafted from leather strips, sinew, or ribbony plants.
Yes, bows have been around for a long time, both as useful tools and as fashion accessories. They were used in the shipping industry as soon as sails were invented and they were already being worn by the sailors on the ships. It’s strange to think that the use of bows was a manly thing long before it became vogue for women to use them for their own purposes. But that is absolutely the truth.
There was even a time in the Dark Ages when the “powers that be” forbid women to wear items that would accentuate their beauty. . .particularly bows. Maybe those people in charge were just jealous because the bows looked better on the women than they did on the men. Thankfully, that type of suppression was overcome and the wearing of bows is not forbidden for most women today.
Bows have always been used as a method to keep things neat, tidy, and secure. The easy release of the bow knot is one of the reasons for its popularity. Strangely, bows are more popular in today’s culture than at any other time in the history of mankind. I say strangely because one of the most important skills that I learned as a child – that of tying my shoelaces – has almost completely disappeared.
It’s sad to contemplate that children today have virtually lost that means of strengthening their manual dexterity abilities. Shoelaces have been replaced by Velcro and most other shoes are slip-ons now so tying shoestrings is a skill that is all but becoming obsolete. It seems the rare person wears shoes that lace up anymore.
Still, bows adorn many different items. Bows made from silk, satin, burlap, lace, plastic, and other materials decorate every fashionable article from jewelry to purses to phone cases. They appear stamped, printed, and emblazoned on everyday household objects from pictures on the wall to the plates we eat from to our bed covers. They are still worn in small or large or plain or fancy styles as hair accessories, neck wear, and as a means of accentuating the waistline. People wear them and they dress up their pets with them, too.
Bows have been around nearly forever, it seems and they are not going away any time soon. That makes all of those bow-crazy girls out there very happy.
If you are someone who loves bows or you know someone who is, visit the Girls Love Bows Gift Shop where you can browse hundreds of bow-themed gifts.
https://sybrinapublishing.wordpress.com/girls-love-bows-gift-shop-glbgs-1/
It was inspired by Cleo’s love of bows.
Recommended Article: Cleo Can Tie A Bow – a Review
Thank you so much for sharing my little article about the evolution of bows with your readers. I apologize for being late in my appreciation as I’ve been dealing with the Texas Ice Storm. No one expected that one! 🙂
I totally understand dealing with an ice storm. The ice storms hit us too, and they were the opposite of fun.
Thanks so much for hosting Sybrina!