During the Second World War, people found ways to show their support for the war effort through fashion. Clothing featuring patriotic designs allowed civilians to 'do their bit' for the war effort without compromising on style.

The London-based textile and fashion company Jacqmar was the most notable creator of scarves featuring popular wartime motifs and patriotic messages. These striking prints capture aspects of life on the home front and in the armed forces.

The scarves were expensive and, when bought in Britain, also required two clothing coupons each. They were produced in silk, rayon or wool.

Souvenirs and ephemera

Salvage Your Rubber

Headscarf in pale blue fabric (32in square) with decorative pink panel containing numerous representations of domestic objects, with exhortations to save rubber and recycle goods in general. In the centre of the scarf is the slogan 'Salvage your RUBBER'
© EPH 3931
© The rights holder (EPH 3931)

This scarf draws upon the theme of salvage, as people were encouraged to recycle materials for war production. The central illustrations show some of the items that could be reused for the war effort such as metal, rubber and paper.

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Souvenirs and ephemera

Happy Landings

Pale blue silk scarf (108 x 44 cm) with end-tassels. The scarf is adorned with the RAF crest (in grey, white and red) together Winston Churchill's famous tribute to the RAF with regard to the Battle of Britain, 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few.' Also within this design is the motto 'Happy Landings' by Jacqmar.
© EPH 3986
© The rights holder (EPH 3986)

This scarf's simple design features the RAF crest together with Winston Churchill's famous tribute to the RAF during the Battle of Britain: 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few'.

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Souvenirs and ephemera

American Forces in London

Colourful square-shaped rayon headscarf printed around the edges of the obverse with well-known London landmarks and populated by American servicemen, a starry night sky is depicted in the centre of the scarf and there is a simple cerise pink border printed around the extreme edges, the design is entitled 'THE AMERICAN FORCES IN LONDON' and this is printed on the inside of the pink border along with the name of the producer 'JACQMAR'.
© EPH 10982
© The rights holder (EPH 10982)

This scarf features many of London's historic sites, 'Bits of Blitz' and the American Embassy. It was designed to appeal specifically to American servicemen who might buy one for their British girlfriends or to send back home as a souvenir.

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Souvenirs and ephemera

Switch Off That Light

Rayon scarf covered with slogans written in purple on white, including such directives as 'Switch off that light, darling', 'Is your journey really necessary?' and other inspirational catchphrases.
© EPH 975
© The rights holder (EPH 975)

This home front themed design features just some of the many messages and instructions aimed at the British public during the Second World War.

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Souvenirs and ephemera

Free French

Scarf shows General De Gaulle's call-to-arms of June 1940, Free French flags and badges of the all the Free French Armed Services.
© EPH 9786
© The rights holder (EPH 9786)

This repeated pattern features Free French flags and badges in support of the forces that continued to fight Germany following the fall of France. The text shown is a famous speech made by Free French leader General De Gaulle after the fall of France in June 1940.

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