The evil eye is one of the oldest and most widespread symbols in the world. You will find it hanging in doorways in Athens, pinned to babies' clothes in Istanbul, set into jewellery across the Middle East and, today, printed on fabric and worn far from the places it came from. This guide looks at what the evil eye means, where the belief comes from and how the symbol is worn today.

What does the evil eye mean?

The phrase refers to two related ideas. The first is a belief: that a look filled with envy or admiration can bring bad luck, illness or misfortune to the person or thing being looked at. The second is the symbol made to protect against it, usually a blue eye, often in glass, worn or displayed to deflect that harmful gaze back where it came from.

In other words, the eye you see on a bracelet or a wall hanging is not the evil eye itself. It is the charm that guards against it.

A belief shared across cultures

The belief appears in many cultures around the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, each with its own name and rituals.

• Greece: the evil eye is known as mati, "eye", and the state of being affected by it is called matiasma. Many families still know a prayer or ritual to lift it.
• Turkey: the protective charm is the nazar boncuğu, the familiar blue glass bead with concentric rings of white and dark blue.
• The Middle East and North Africa: the eye often appears alongside the hamsa, an open hand symbol also used for protection.
• Southern Italy: the belief in malocchio comes with its own protective gestures and charms.

Ancient Greek and Roman writers discussed the power of the envious gaze, which shows how long the idea has been part of Mediterranean life. The details vary from place to place, but the core belief is remarkably consistent: admiration that tips into envy carries a risk, and a symbol can turn it away.

Why is the evil eye blue?

Most protective eyes are blue, although other colours exist. Several explanations are given. Blue glass was widely produced and affordable in the regions where the charm spread, and some traditions hold that blue eyes were rarer in the Mediterranean and therefore associated with the power of the gaze itself. Whatever the origin, the cobalt blue eye has become the instantly recognisable form of the symbol.

Other colours and their meanings

Modern jewellery and textiles often use other colours, each given its own meaning by sellers and collectors, from green for balance to red for courage. These associations are mostly contemporary. The traditional protective eye remains blue and white.

How the evil eye is used today

For many people, the evil eye remains a living tradition. A charm is given to a newborn, hung in a new home or tucked into a bag before a journey. For others, it has become a design motif valued for its history and graphic strength. Both uses can coexist: wearing the symbol can be a way to carry a piece of heritage, a gesture of protection, or simply an appreciation of an image that has travelled through centuries.

When wearing a symbol with deep cultural roots, it helps to know its story. That is part of why we wrote about the meaning behind our own design.

The evil eye at Parhela: the Matiasma

Our Matiasma pattern was designed in-house as a tribute to the ancient symbol of the evil eye. It draws on the rich colours and intricate hues of traditional Greek and Ottoman textiles, bringing the protective emblem into a contemporary print. We tell the full story of the design in the Matiasma: why we put the evil eye on silk.

The pattern appears on several pieces:

• The Matiasma Silk Shirt, cut from 100% satin silk.
• The Matiasma Silk Shorts, the matching shorts in the same silk.
• The Matiasma, a heavier piece carrying the same pattern.

Worn together, the shirt and shorts form one of our matching sets. You will find every silk piece in our silk shirts and shorts collection.

How to wear an evil eye print

A bold symbolic print works best when the rest of the outfit stays quiet.

Let the print lead

Pair a printed silk shirt with plain trousers or joggers in a neutral shade. Black, navy or oatmeal let the colours of the pattern stand out. Our joggers and trackpants work well for a relaxed evening look.

Wear the set for impact

A matching shirt and shorts in the same print make a confident warm-weather outfit, whether by the sea or at a summer dinner.

Layer it in colder months

A silk shirt does not have to wait for summer. Worn open over a tee or under a heavy knit, a printed shirt adds colour to a winter wardrobe. Our guide on how to wear a silk shirt in winter covers the combinations that work best.

Caring for a printed silk piece

Silk prints keep their colour for years with the right care. Wash gently in cool water with a silk-friendly detergent, avoid wringing and dry away from direct sunlight. Always follow the care label first. Our step-by-step guide on how to wash a silk shirt explains each step.

In short

The evil eye is an ancient belief that an envious gaze can cause harm, and the blue eye symbol is the charm that protects against it. Known as mati in Greece, nazar in Turkey and malocchio in southern Italy, it is shared across the Mediterranean and beyond. At Parhela, it inspired the Matiasma, a pattern designed in-house from Greek and Ottoman textile traditions and printed on 100% satin silk. Discover the pieces in our silk collection.