Millefiori Silk Habotai Scarf

DESIGNER'S NOTES

A multi-coloured Fox & Chave silk habotai scarf with a design of graphical forms reminiscent of those seen in a glassmaking technique known as Millefiori.

Meaning 'a thousand flowers' in Italian, millefiori is a decorative glasswork technique that produces intricate floral or geometric patterns in cross-section.

Originating in ancient Roman and Alexandrian glassmaking, it was revived and refined in 19th-century Murano, Venice. The process involves fusing multicoloured glass rods into canes, then slicing them to reveal tiny, detailed designs, which are then embedded into larger glass objects like paperweights, beads, or vessels.

Millefiori became especially popular during the Victorian period, prized for its vibrant, kaleidoscopic beauty. Though often associated with Venetian glass, similar techniques have been used worldwide, including in African trade beads and contemporary studio glass. 

COLOURS

STYLING

A Fox & Chave habotai silk scarf can be worn with the classic knot style or a pussycat bow. You can even create a shawl effect by knotting two scarves together behind your neck and allowing them to drape over your shoulders. More scarf styling ideas are available in this wonderful How to Tie a Scarf book.