Perfect Paisley

Raf Simons has created for Jil Sander an elegantly restrained collection.

Pristine paisley patterning. All over paisley but not too all over.

Looking like a teardrop or a plant form, the paisley pattern is of Iranian and Indian origin.When Indian cashmere shawls using the motif turned up in Europe all sorts of reinterpretations popped up. The English name comes from the weaving town of Paisley in Scotland.

In 1850 a writer in the London Journal of Design writing about paisley said any manufacturer producing this “fine form” is sure of the patronage of large numbers out of pure regard for the old friendly shape.

These are very friendly to me.

| Jil Sander, Spring 2012, image comes from style.com |

| Jil Sander, Spring 2012, image comes from style.com |

Julia Ritson

One response to “Perfect Paisley”

  1. michaeljones909 Avatar

    This pattern was very popular in the u.k. back in the 7o’s early 80’s but it was used extensively for curtain’s and pj’s. I’ve never seen it used for clothing before,it does’nt seem to sit right ,but that may be due to the image of my grandparent’s curtain’s…

Leave a Reply