When we started sewing balaclavas, we looked into how people were searching for them. The result amused us and explained a lot at the same time. Alongside the correct name, we saw balaklawa, balaklava, balaclava, bacalava, and even baklava hat—a combination of a winter headpiece and a Turkish dessert. On top of that, there were countless queries like "balaclava what is it" and "what is a balaclava."
This means that "balaclava" is still a word many of us are just getting to know. That is why this text isn’t another lookbook. It answers the basic questions: what a balaclava is, where its name came from, why it functions as a "kominiarka" (balaclava/ski mask) in Poland, and how not to get lost in all of this. Without embellishment and without repeating legends that sound good but aren’t entirely true.
What is a balaclava? A one-sentence definition
A balaclava is a knitted headpiece that simultaneously covers the head, ears, and neck while leaving the face completely or partially exposed. In practice, it is a hat, hood, and neck warmer combined into one item.
It is worth clarifying right away what a balaclava is not. It is not a regular beanie because it extends lower to cover the neck. It is also not a scarf or a neck warmer because it also covers the head. It differs from a hood in that it is not sewn into a jacket; rather, it is a separate item that you put on regardless of your outerwear. It is this combination of functions that makes it so difficult to name unequivocally and why there are so many terms surrounding it.
Where does the name balaclava come from? Balaklava, the Crimean War, and a legend worth correcting
The name comes from Balaklava, a port town in Crimea, near Sevastopol. During the Crimean War, on October 25, 1854, the Battle of Balaclava took place there—the very same battle where the famous Charge of the Light Brigade occurred.
And here begins the legend that almost every text about balaclavas repeats: that British soldiers fought in the battle wearing knitted balaclavas, and the name was taken from the battle site. The reality is less cinematic. The winter of 1854/1855 in Crimea was catastrophically hard for the British army, and the soldiers did not have proper clothing. A massive campaign started back home: women knitted warm items, including head and neck coverings, and sent them to the front.
However, the name "balaclava" did not appear in print until several decades later, at the end of the 19th century. Balaklava gave the headpiece its name as a symbol of that winter and that war, not because someone invented it on the day of the battle. Similar head coverings had been used before, they just didn't have a single, catchy name. We prefer to say this outright, because the story of sweaters knitted for freezing soldiers is, in essence, more beautiful than the legend of the battle.
Why do we say "kominiarka" in Polish?
For decades in Polish, no one said "balaclava." People said "kominiarka," and that word is still the most commonly used today. Its origin is not definitively documented. It is most often linked to a "kominiarz" (chimney sweep) and their headgear, which protected them from soot. On the other hand, "komin" (chimney) has long meant a scarf in the form of a closed tube in fashion, so for many, "kominiarka" is simply a logical development: a chimney that reaches all the way to the head.
However, there is another side to this word, and there is no point in pretending it doesn't exist. For years, "kominiarka" in Poland was associated with a covered face: with skiers and mountaineers, but also with special forces, robberies in crime films, or football hooligans. This association stems from the fact that a classic "kominiarka" had only openings for the eyes, and sometimes the mouth.
That is why the English word "balaclava" has become accepted in fashion. It isn't about snobbery, but about making a distinction. A fashion balaclava almost always exposes the entire face and is closer to a soft hood than a mask. The word "balaclava" immediately signals that we are talking about an accessory for a coat, not gear for the slopes or something intended to hide one’s identity.
Balaclava, balaklawa, or baklava? How to spell it and what not to confuse
Since the word came to us from English, and the town itself is called Bałakława in Polish, several spellings are in circulation. In short and practical terms:
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Balaclava is the English spelling and is the most commonly used in fashion today. You will find the most models in shops under this name.
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Balaklawa is the Polonized form, spelled as it is pronounced. It is also in use and is understood.
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Kominiarka is the traditional Polish term for the same thing, though it is more often associated with the sports or technical version.
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Balaklava, balaclawa, bacalava, and similar variations are simply typos and mixtures of two spellings. Search engines usually understand what you mean anyway.
It is worth mentioning separately a mistake that appears in searches surprisingly often: baklava (or baklawa in Polish) is a sweet dessert made of phyllo pastry, nuts, and syrup, known from Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine. It has nothing to do with a headpiece, other than the fact that the words sound similar. If you have ever typed "baklava hat," you are not the only one.
Types of balaclavas. Which one are you actually looking for?
One name covers several completely different items. Before you buy anything, it is worth knowing which one you have in mind, as they differ in purpose and appearance.
1. Full balaclava, with an eye opening
It covers almost the entire face, leaving only the eyes, and sometimes the mouth, exposed. This is the technical version: for skiing, scooters, working in the cold, or under a motorcycle helmet. It is usually thin and snug, made of synthetic materials or thin merino wool. In the city, it looks distinctly sporty, and this is what all the unpleasant associations with the word "kominiarka" refer to.
2. Balaclava with an exposed face
It covers the head, ears, and neck, while the entire oval of the face remains uncovered. This is the most popular fashion model, often knitted from thicker yarn. It looks like a snug hood combined with a turtleneck.
3. Tie-front hood-neck warmer
A soft form that is closer to a hood and scarf than a beanie. It is not a closed tube, but a neck warmer finished with drawstrings that you tie under your chin or to the side. This allows you to decide for yourself how tightly it fits around your face: snug in the wind, loose on a warmer day. This is the most feminine and urban version of the balaclava. This is exactly the kind we sew at Nudyess.
4. Balaclava-scarf and multifunctional models
A type of hybrid: a long scarf that can be pinned up as a hood, or a hood with long ends that you wrap around your neck. An interesting form, but it requires styling and is less likely to stay in place all day.
How the balaclava went from the front lines to the runways
For over a hundred years, the balaclava was a purely utilitarian item. It was worn by the military, mountaineers, and polar explorers, then later by skiers and motorcyclists. The only thing that mattered was whether it kept you warm and fit under a helmet.
Fashion began to take an interest in the late 2010s, when knitted balaclavas appeared on the runways of luxury brands and in streetwear shoots. The real breakthrough, however, came in the winter of 2020/2021, when social media was flooded with photos of handmade balaclavas, often in vibrant colors and thick yarn. Since then, the balaclava has returned every season, only in increasingly calmer forms: neutral colors, smooth knits, minimalist cuts. It turned from a TikTok trend into just another version of a winter headpiece, as natural as a beanie or a beret.
Honestly about what balaclavas are made of
Among the inquiries about balaclavas, a great many concern the material: wool, cotton, cashmere, merino, fleece. And rightly so, because what a balaclava is made of determines whether it will keep you warm, whether it will itch, and whether it will hold its shape after the season. In short:
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Wool provides the best warmth and regulates heat well, but in its pure form, it can be sensitive to washing and prone to stretching.
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Merino is thin and soft, which is why it works best in snug sports models worn directly against the skin.
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Cashmere is the softest and most expensive, but also the least resistant to daily wear and tear.
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Cotton is comfortable and easy to wash, but it doesn't provide much warmth, making it better for transitional days than deep freeze.
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Fleece and synthetics are light and inexpensive, protecting against the wind, but they are less breathable and tend to generate static electricity.
I write more extensively about the differences between animal fibers and how to choose between them in my comparison of mohair, alpaca, cashmere, and merino. If you have sensitive facial skin, you might also find this text helpful: what determines whether wool itches.
And now about our balaclava, without beating around the bush: it is made of a yarn blend of 50% wool and 50% polyester. We don't pretend it's pure wool. It is a conscious choice. The wool provides warmth and soft comfort, while the polyester makes the knit hold its shape better, stretch less around the face, and withstand daily putting on, taking off, and being tossed into a bag. For an accessory you wear every day throughout the entire winter, this stability is more important than a "100% wool" label.
Nudyess Balaclava: tie-front neck warmer in three colors
Our balaclava is the tie-front hood-neck warmer described above, in One Size, with drawstrings that allow you to adjust how it sits around your face. We sew it in three neutral colors that combine with most winter wardrobes: cream, beige, and black. Cream brightens the face, beige gives the most natural effect, and black is the most universal and urban.
I won’t repeat here how to wear a balaclava with a coat, jacket, or dress, nor how to take care of it. You can find all of that in the description of our women's balaclava collection. If you are building a winter wardrobe base, also take a look at our sweaters and cardigans.
Is a balaclava for you? Three questions before buying
A balaclava is not a mandatory element of a winter wardrobe. For some, it is the most comfortable headpiece they have ever owned; for others, it is a troublesome accessory. Before you buy, answer three questions honestly.
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Do your ears and neck get cold first? If so, a balaclava will solve this problem better than a hat and scarf separately, because it leaves no gap between the two.
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Do you spend a lot of time on the move, and little time out in the open in one spot? A balaclava works well when moving: at a bus stop, on the way to work, on a walk. In a warm interior, you have to take it off or slide it onto your shoulders like a hood, so if you are constantly going in and out, you will appreciate the tie-front model, which is easy to loosen.
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Does it bother you that a hat ruins your hairstyle? A balaclava also sits against your hair, but it does so more softly and evenly, without leaving a pressed line on your forehead. For many women, this is the main reason they switched from a hat to a hood-neck warmer.
If you answered "yes" to at least two of these questions, a balaclava will likely stay with you for longer than one season.
One thing, many names
Balaclava, balaklawa, kominiarka: regardless of what you call it, it’s the same thing—a warm head and neck cover in one. Its name recalls a wartime winter from over 170 years ago, the Polish term carries a baggage of associations that fashion is slowly changing, and today's version is primarily a practical, calm addition to a coat. Just the way we like it most: simple, timeless, and for every one of us. You can read more about how we think about clothes in our brand philosophy.
Sandra Do Manh, Founder & CEO Nudyess
Most frequently asked questions about the balaclava and its name
Why is a balaclava called a "kominiarka"?
"Kominiarka" is the traditional Polish term for the same headpiece that covers the head, ears, and neck. Its origin is not definitively documented: it is most often linked to a chimney sweep, and in fashion, also to the word "komin" (chimney), meaning a scarf in the form of a tube. Today, "kominiarka" is more often associated with the sports version, while "balaclava" is linked to the fashion version, which exposes the face.
Where does the name balaclava come from?
From Balaklava, a town in Crimea, where the Battle of Balaclava took place in 1854 during the Crimean War. British soldiers suffered from the cold, and warm head coverings were knitted for them back home. The name "balaclava" itself only appears in print toward the end of the 19th century, so the popular story about soldiers wearing balaclavas during the battle is a simplification.
How do you spell it correctly: balaclava or balaklawa?
Both forms are in use. "Balaclava" is the English spelling, most commonly encountered in fashion and in shops today. "Balaklawa" is the Polonized form, spelled according to pronunciation. The traditional Polish term for the same item is "kominiarka."
Is baklava the same as a balaclava?
No. Baklava is a sweet dessert made of phyllo pastry, nuts, and syrup, known from Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine. A balaclava is a headpiece. The words sound similar, which is why they are often confused, including in search engines.
How is a fashion balaclava different from a ski one?
A ski "kominiarka" is usually thin and snug, often synthetic or made of thin merino wool, and covers a larger part of the face so that it fits under a helmet. A fashion balaclava is made of a thicker, soft knit, exposes the entire face, and is meant to be an accessory to a coat or jacket, not a piece of sports equipment.
Is the face covered in a fashion balaclava?
No. Fashion balaclavas, including the Nudyess tie-front neck warmer, expose the entire oval of the face, while covering the head, ears, and neck. Models with openings only for the eyes are technical versions intended for winter sports and working in freezing conditions.
Is a balaclava only worn in winter?
Usually yes, but not only. Woolen models work well from late autumn to early spring, especially on windy days. Thinner balaclavas, for example cotton ones, can also be worn on cool transitional days. A tied model is easy to loosen, so it works well when the temperature changes throughout the day.