Hello Sewing Friends!
When we think of style with staying power fashion capitals like Paris and Milan most often come to mind, but it was actually Scotland that popularized two of the most enduring designs in the pantheon of patterns—PAISLEY and PLAID.
Paisley may have had Persian origins, but its namesake is actually a town in the Scottish lowlands. This industrious town mass-produced knock-offs of expensive imported shawls featuring the paisley pattern for a fraction of the cost, making them accessible to all, not just the aristocracy. The tear drop design quickly became a fashion statement of 19th century boho culture. The 1960s later saw a resurgence in paisley’s popularity when it was donned by beatniks as a sort of anti-status symbol of the counter-culture. John Lennon ironically painted his Rolls-Royce with the pattern.
