Fabrics with floral prints capture that beauty quite perfectly. No wonder walking in a shop full of floral throw pillows seems like a stroll in a beautiful garden. The question that often intrigues people is when exactly this evergreen print was first used in fashion. Surprisingly, the answer dates back to quite a few centuries ago. Let’s take a peek back into the history and find out how floral got into fashion.
Floral Prints in China and Japan
If you have ever had a chance to experience Chinese and Japanese art inspired floral throw pillows at an interior décor store, you will see that most of them inspired by flowers, foliage, trees, and even birds. These patterns have been around for centuries. You can see similar prints on dresses, carpets, and rugs dating back to 3000 BC. Some of the flowers such as cherry blossoms and peonies are used as symbol for wealth and happiness. So, if you believe in Feng Shui, you can use floral throw pillows on solid colored sofas to bring out the beauty and blessings.
Floral Prints in India and Persia
Not too long after the floral prints became a fashion statement in the China and Japan, it bloomed its way into South Asian fashion. Persian and Indian ethnic prints largely constitutes of floral patterns and motives. Unlike softer colors used in China and Japan, Indian floral prints were all about bright and bold colors. Think orange, reds, and greens. Both Persians and Indian developed unique ways to dye and create prints so vibrant and eye-catching. Floral prints of Indian and Persian origins are used in decorative throw pillows that can beautifully break the monotony of colors in your living room.
Floral Prints from Europe to American Fashion
Floral print made its way to European fashion with the expansion of French and British colonies in Asia. That is the reason; the European floral prints were fine amalgam of subtle colors used in china and the bold motives from India. The trend reached America as the age of industrialization helped European fashion invade the world. Also, the American floral prints of the modern day are influenced by the floral prints used in Hawaiian Islands.
What started as elite fashion statement centuries ago and is still in vogue. So, if you are ever confused about which print or pattern to chose, you can never go wrong with floral.