It is said that paisley shawls were the very definition of social status in the early 18th century
We will find out more about this in Shapes, Symbolic meanings and places of origin
Resembling a large comma or twisted teardrop, the
kidney-shaped paisley is one of the most recognized patterns in the world. The lacy pattern is Persian in origin, but its western name derives from the town of
Paisley, in central
Scotland.
Some design scholars call the distinct shape
boteh and believe it is the convergence of a stylized floral spray and a
cypress tree: a
Zoroastrian (Religious spirit worshiping god of flame) symbol of
life and
eternity. A floral motif called
buta, which originated in the
Safavid Dynasty of
Persia (from 1501 to
1736), was a major textile pattern in Iran also during the
Qajar Dynasty. In these periods, the pattern was used to decorate royal regalia, crowns, and court garments, as well as textiles used by the general population.
The pattern is still widely popular in Iran and
Central Asian countries
(silk roads: extending from Southern Europe through Arabia, Somalia, Egypt, Persia, India and Java till it reaches China.).
It is woven using gold or silver threads on silk or other high quality textiles for gifts, for weddings and special occasions.
In Iran and Uzbekistan its use goes beyond clothing - paintings, jewelry, frescoes, curtains, tablecloths, quilts, carpets, garden landscaping, and pottery also sport the buta design. In Uzbekistan the most frequent item that can be found featuring the design is the traditional headdress
doppi.
The modern French words for paisley are
boteh and
palme, the latter being a reference to the palm tree, which, along with the pine and the cypress, is one of the traditional botanical motifs thought to have influenced the shape of the paisley element as we now know it.
In Pakistan, paisley designs are widely termed the
carrey design. Carrey in Urdu means mango seed.
Contemporary style
Paisley design had a
renaissance in 2000/2001 and most recently 2004 and early 2005, when men's designers such as
Robert Talbott began using the pattern again in ties.
J. Barbour & Sons make traditional Paisley handkerchiefs to complement their Barbour jackets.
In classic women's fashions, the paisley scarf, a smaller, lightweight version of the paisley shawls manufactured in Scotland which made the pattern an English fashion staple, has never gone out of fashion. In the early 21st century, paisley is a popular motif in
Vera Bradley bags.
Paisley also goes in and out of vogue as an upholstery, bedding, and curtain fabric.
How well known people apply paisley design?
Paisley was particularly popular during the
Summer of Love, heavily identified with
psychedelic style and the interest in Indian spirituality and culture brought about by the pilgrimage of
The Beatles there in 1968.
John Lennon had a
Rolls Royce painted with the design in 1967.
Fender Guitars made a Pink Paisley version of their
Telecaster guitar, by sticking paisley wallpaper onto the guitar bodies.
The modern recording artist
Prince paid tribute to the
rock and roll history of paisley when he created the
Paisley Park recording label and established
Paisley Park Studios.
Ryan Ross, the lyricist and guitarist for the Fueled By Ramen Band Panic At The Disco, is also known for wearing many assorted paisley shirts and vests.
Cotton handkerchiefs especially those carried by workers were often red, blue, or green, with a white pattern; paisley being the border of this design. Today such handkerchiefs are often worn as
bandanas
Paisley designs are also the most frequently used designs on
henna tattoos.
Products featuring paisley design
Bandana
Scarf
Shawls
Van Shoes
Headband
