I have noticed an uptick of styles offered in toile (pronounced: twall) fabric. This inspired me to research the pattern. Toile is the {typically} blue illustrations on white or off-white background. From Fabric Museum (www.fabricmuseum.org):
Toiles — printed fabrics of historical or pastoral scenes — are once again popular in home decorating, just as they have been, on and off, for two hundred and fifty years.
First produced in Ireland in the 1750’s, they spread quickly to England and then to France, where they became known as toiles de Jouy. (Toile is French for cloth and Jouy was the factory in Versailles where they were manufactured, becoming the favorite fabric of Marie Antoinette.)
By the 19th century, roller printing replaced copperplate printing and Americans began producing their own toiles, based mainly on eighteenth century European designs. Present-day toiles also follow classic patterns.
But in the twentieth century, designers were inspired by a unique American vision, creating fabrics that retold our history and our simple pleasures (or at least our yearning for them).
Not surprisingly, toiles were especially popular during the Colonial Era in the United States and are particularly associated with preserved towns and historical areas. The historic nature of toile makes it a total classic in my eyes, ranking the pattern among seersucker, madras, tartans, and gingham.
Since toile has landed on my radar within the past three weeks, I have found dresses, skirts, tops, and pants in the pattern at a variety of price points, ranging from the relatively modest to four figures.
