Fashion

Turbans are both an expression of glamour and a way to keep the hair in check. They appeared in the West in the 17th century, where they were imported from North Africa and the Middle East whose exotic styles have inspired European imagination for centuries.

In the 1930s, the turban became a symbol of well-educated, well-travelled western women, such as the Swedish-born film icon Greta Garbo, who was famous not only in Hollywood, but also around the world.

British royalty are known for matching their hats to the occasion. Queen Elizabeth II wore a turban rather than crown on her tour of the Western Isles in 1996.