Robe belt

The custom of wearing belts made of expensive silk fabrics, often interwoven with gold or silver (solid), came to Poland from the East. From the 16th century, they were imported mainly by Armenians from India, Persia and Turkey. Oriental fashion, and with time the native tradition of wearing a robe, contributed to the emergence of many belt factories, i.e., sash manufactories, in the Republic of Poland. Armenians also initiated the establishment of such weaving manufactories.
The most significant demand for sash manufactories occurred during the Great Sejm period. It was then that Paschalis Jakubowicz, previously known as the owner of a Turkish shop offering oriental products, set up a weaving workshop.
His belts were signed with the name Paschalis embossed in the four corners of the heads. In 1790, he was ennobled in recognition of his merits 'for multiplying useful handicrafts'. From then on, he began to sign his products with the initials PI or his full name – Paschalis Jakubowicz, and the coat of arms representing a lamb with a flag. Such marking guaranteed buyers that the product came from a reputable source and was of excellent quality.