Floral Fabrics are Winter's Most Striking Trend

Floral fabrics invaded the lives of the stylish a few centuries ago. In the 17th century, a floral and plant-based fabric called "chintz" became popular in Hyderabad, India. The fabric, often cardboard, was printed by hand-patterning or printing on wooden blocks. The East exported fabrics printed in this way to the West, where they were used to decorate interiors as curtains and upholstery. Later, clothes were sewn from the upholstery, and dresses were extremely fashionable.

As the 17th century progressed, flower-printed fabrics flowing from India gained incredible popularity and became a threat to the local European textile industry. Since 1686, France has banned the import of this fabric into the country or even the wearing of clothing made from it. There were loopholes in the law, however, and the fashionable set found ways to circumvent them. Such bans did not apply to those living in the Palace of Versailles, which dictated the fashions of the time.

In the middle of the 18th century, bans restricting the import and use of Indian fabric came to an end, as Europeans had already discovered the secrets of fashion fabric production. Initially making Indian reproductions, European countries later created their own versions, and one of the most popular was the French equivalent of chintz, Toile de Jouy, a fabric depicting various scenes from the lives of landlords.

During the '80s, chintz margins were already considered old-fashioned, and the fashion world associated them with old furniture and grandiose tea sets. Some time ago, Toile de Jouy was revived by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who replaced the scenes of the life of the manors with jungle drawings. This autumn, the chintz-style floral patterns returned to the collections of other fashion houses. However, the floral lightness is different in the cold season, as it is offset by dark lace, thick knitwear, leather clothes, long gloves, and thick boots that create a fall mood.