Walking cane, also commonly known as walking stick, or mobility aid in general. Often times, the association of mobility aid use with aging and physical decline contributed to stigmatizing attitudes.

Thus, most people wouldn’t react quite positively when it comes to using a walking cane to walk, even the elderly. 

Ever wonder if walking cane was more than just a functional mobility aid?

What if I told you that a walking cane symbolizes timeless, eternity and life? 

And if I told you that using a walking cane is one of the coolest, most fashionable things to do? 

What does Eastern and Western culture say about walking canes?

Walking cane  symbolizes “longevity” in the ancient China. Since the Han Dynasty, all the dynasties practiced the tradition in gifting canes as a way to honor the elderly. In addition, during Tang Dynasty, a Chinese general, Jing Li, had suffered from foot disease due to old age, he wrote in to  withdraw himself from the position, Emperor Taizong of Tang personally awarded him a walking cane that symbolizes “life“.  

It does still sound like canes are either for the old or the sick, doesn’t it? 

However, if you look at the Western culture, specifically the European culture, walking canes symbolize authority – kings, priests, judges and military commanders – were represented with some form of walking cane to show the type of power they each possessed. 

A fashion trend revolves around walking canes soon became popular in the 17th and 20th centuries among the Europe’s upper classes, the trend was then extended to China in the late-Qing Dynasty. The Chinese saw it as a symbol of Western civilization rather than a fashion trend, and so they called walking canes the “civilization stick” (direct translated) back then.  

Since Chinese did not practice a tradition of accessorizing a walking cane, many Chinese, or Asians in general, found it quite bizarre that a fully mobile and healthy person would use a “stick” that was meant for the elderly or disabled. 

The young Chiang Kai-shek was one of the key person that influences a different level of perception towards walking canes. Chiang Kai-shek was obviously not using a walking cane for mobility. (Duh!) He was just accessorizing walking canes like we do with our watches and bags. Isn’t that cool? 

How did walking canes become popular in the fashion industry?  

Many European knights turned into “gentlemen” after entering the 17th century, and then switched the swords they worn around their waists into walking canes, symbolizing their identity and status.  At that time, a walking cane was a fashion statement equivalent to the Hermès bags these days!  

Although it looked like a stick, it really was more than just an ordinary stick back then!  

Though walking canes became a must-have accessory in the wardrobes of many European gentlemen, not everyone could afford them because they were hand-crafted and very expensive at the time. 

What causes the decline of “The Cane” fashion trend?

When industrial revolution hit in the 19th century, the production cost has greatly reduced. The middle class finally had the chance to get into the fashion trend. But in those days, walking canes were still meant to be elegant, think The Great Gatsby!

Even so, European gentlemen must obey rules and take moral oaths in order to use a walking cane. In fact, in the early-17th, every gentleman in London was required to have a license to hold the privilege of carrying a walking cane. If he did not abide by certain specific requirements, he would have to give in to the etiquette police, figuratively speaking! And the license may be forfeited at any time.  

Meanwhile, crimes in various European countries continue to occur through the development of industrial revolution. Walking canes then become defensive weapons for that matter.

Unfortunately, after the end of World War II, people converted to wearing casual clothes. Less people followed through the fashion trend of accessorizing a walking cane. Everyone can afford walking canes by then. And walking canes began to drift away from being “elegant”.  

Fortunately though, you can still find traces of the fashion charm of walking canes in literature and film such as Sherlock Holmes and The Great Gatsby. Popular stars like Brad Pitt dressed up with walking canes even at times of injury. The Ralph Lauren fashion show in 2012  also showcased walking canes as part of its collection of high hats and flakes inspired by the 1930s gentleman’s clothing.  

Even though today’s walking cane fashion trend has changed from a 19th-century daily outfit to an accessory that can only be found at formal occasions, it still carries the culture of knights and gentlemen, and represents the elegance of a timeless era.  To this day, there are still people who want to be the classic gentlemen that dressed neatly with a walking cane on hand.  

This is when fashion meets functionality.

Explore the timeless adventure with ANZEN here, presented to you by SilverCare at Alpro Pharmacy.