Know Your Fashion

Maybe it’s the wanderlust or maybe it’s the longing for simpler times, but all of those free-spirited, bohemian prints are trending again—including our favorite, paisley. But how much do you really know about the motif? There's more to it than the association with the hippie heydays in the Sixties and Seventies. We break down the history here. Keep reading to be in the know…

The Origins
The paisley print, originally known as boteh, has Persian origins, with many design scholars believing it was inspired by the Cypress tree—a powerful symbol from the Zoroastrian religion that represents life and eternity. With its teardrop shape and curved upper end, the motif became a major textile pattern in Iran, especially for those in higher classes.

The Mughal Moment
In India, the paisley evolved mainly in The Kingdom of Kashmir, under the Mughal Empire. It began showing up in shawls, worn mostly by men for ceremonies. Today, the paisley is seen everywhere in India—from home décor to saris for women.

Name Game
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the British East India company took the Kashmir shawls from India over to England and Scotland. It was there, in the town of Paisley, Scotland—a center of the weaving industry at the time—that the print gained its popularized Western name. The shawls were loved by everyone, and were being produced in large quantities in Europe, so much so that they became accessible to all people—not just the upper-class—thus gaining even more popularity.

Rock 'N' Roll
Fast forward to the Swinging Sixties. Paisley exploded in popularity and soon became a shorthand for the bohemian lifestyle, worn by everyone from Mick Jagger to The Beatles to David Bowie. The trend continued through the Eighties, leading to an underground rock movement in California, heavy on the psychedelia, called Paisley Underground. And then there was Prince—not only did he release the single "Paisley Park" in 1985—"for love is the color this place imparts"—but he named his record label and studio "Paisley Park" too.