Stripes: A Quick History

You may think stripes are an American staple. However, did you know stripes weren’t always loved by the Western world? Stripes have a dicey place in history. Stripes first appeared in Medieval times and were associated with the devil. However, by the end of the nineteenth century, Queen Victoria rebranded the pattern by dressing her son in stripes for a Royal Yacht event, thus creating an eternal bond between stripes and nautical settings. In 1858 the French Navy issued navy and white striped uniforms and the “Breton” stripe was born. Shortly after, French legends like Coco Chanel and Picasso adopted the style.

Like many fashion trends, the stripe trend migrated from France to America in the 1900s after the French Riviera became a hot spot for the Hollywood elite. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot. Stripes were a symbol of casual yet chic style, a step removed from overtly feminine design the decade prior. Aesthetics like those of a Slim Aarons photograph became popular, and to this day stripes are a staple of classic interior design. Designers today utilize stripes for outdoor pillows, cabana drapery, indoor rug designs, and more.

The Go To Stripe is Born

Since the early days of Perennials Fabrics, stripes have always been popular for our clients, so much so that we have an entire “Stripes” category. From pinstripes to ornately decorated stripes, our Perennials designers love to put a new spin on an old classic.

Through our grapevine of sales associates, we heard that designers wanted a stripe that was bigger in width than our two inch Big Stripe, yet smaller than our four inch Bigger Stripe. A Goldie Locks stripe, if you will.

In our Spring 2018 Seleccion natural collection, the three inch Go To Stripe fabric quality was born. It is now offered in a stunning array of colors, from natural Olive to classic French Lilac.

The people have spoken and our clients are loving this fresh twist on a classic stripe. We think Slim Aarons would be proud.