This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

# Presidential and Prime Ministerial Sashes

##

Last modified: 2026-04-11 by rob raeside
Keywords: presidential sashes | sash |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

- Introduction
- Argentina
- Belize
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- France
- Honduras
- Lebanon
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Central American Parliament

See also:

- FOTW Vexillological Reference
- FOTW Topical Index

## Introduction

A presidential sash is a cloth sash worn by presidents of many nations in the world. Such sashes are worn by presidents in Africa, Asia, Europe, and most notably, in Latin America. Presidential sashes are usually very colorful, and designed to resemble the nation's flag. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_sash
Almost every nation has some form of decorative sash as one of its highest military awards. This is a tradition that dates back to at least the 15th century.
Source: http://www.filibustercartoons.com/pictessays_leaders_pres.php
For a set of Presidential sashes around the world please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_sash
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banda_Presidencial
http://www.filibustercartoons.com/pictessays_leaders_pres.php
Esteban Rivera, 2 September 2010

Sashes are used not only military awards (or indeed the highest category of civilian awards). In the UK the award of a Knighthood in one of several Orders (the Order of The Bath, of St Michael and St George, of The Royal Victorian Order, etc.) carries with it the right to wear a sash (called colloquially a "ribbon").
Presidential and civic sashes generally use the relevant national colours and (possibly) coat of arms.
Christopher Southworth, 2 September 2010

Also, there are other Executive entities who have a sash, but are not either Presidents or Prime Minister like the following:
Córdoba Department, Colombia, Governor sash
Esteban Rivera, 13 March 2013

Sashes may have originated in the XVI century, the word derived from the Arabic "وشاح" (romanized "shāsh", English: muslin, a cotton fabric of plain weave).
Sources: https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/sash
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sash and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sash
Aside from the civilian use in the denomination of the section, there should be a broader scope of information in the sense that, as already mentioned in the above mentioned URL, there are also sashes of military origin and/or use.
In the civilian use, aside from Heads of State or Heads of Government, ere are three examples that can be included as examples of Executive authorities of different levels:
- Antioquia Department Governor Sash
- Bogotá Mayor Sash
- Córdoba Department Governor Sash
In the military use, a few examples come to mind, usually in use (but not exclusively) by Standard bearers, e.g. Iranian and Colombian military parade sashes (perhaps most countries use them):
- Colombian Army red sash (from https://www.elheraldo.co)
- Colombian Navy blue sash (from https://www.youtube.com/watch)
- Colombian Navy black sash (from https://www.youtube.com/watch at 0:17) - even though this is a black sash, it is not related to a mourning flag
- Colombian Air Force light blue sash (from https://www.fac.mil.co/es/galeria-fac/20-julio-2025)
- Iranian IRGC generic sash (from https://orientxxi.info/iran-guardians-of-the-revolution)

Esteban Rivera, 12 March 2026