This winter, limited edition gift boxes are available to take your gift for your loved ones to the next level.
Our pick for this seasonal gift box is the classic paisley pattern filled with so much vitality represented by flowers, leaves, vines, seeds and protozoa. Graphically expressing these energetic motifs, we have created a powerful design perfect for the cold season.
As much as paisley is a popular pattern that can now be seen in a variety of textiles such as bandanas, scarves, and home decorations in our everyday life, you may not have been aware of its origins.
So let's dig into the world of paisley, its history and meaning behind and you will come to understand why we are so fascinated by it.
The paisley pattern is a design using a drop-shaped motif with its tip curved to one side. About 200 years ago, paisley shawls became popular among noble women in Europe. These were cashmere shawls made from dyed yarn of cashmere goats that grew in the Kashmir region of northwestern India and were woven and embroidered with the pattern. They are said to have become popular when Akbar, the great emperor of northern India, gave them as gifts to foreign countries. These paisley shawls can be spotted in almost any portraits of women of higher ranks painted during this era. They enjoyed pairing simple dresses with the oriental paisley pattern to make it look more fun and playful, which became a "thing“ back then.
At the time, Europeans were importing luxury Kashmir shawls, and the popularity and demand were only growing. They eventually began seeking a way to somehow produce them themselves. Paisley, a city in Scotland with a thriving textile industry, succeeded in mass-producing shawls originally woven by hand, but now using machines. Over the next 100 years, the machine woven shawls were produced on the largest scale in the world, and the pattern itself came to be known as paisley.
The mysterious and captivating pattern of paisley ― what does it represent? Similar patterns have been seen since ancient times. Around the beginning of the 17th century, a Kashmiri shawl in India was found to have a neatly woven pattern of drops. There are several theories about this. One says it is a pretty floral pattern called "Boteh". Another says it is “The Tree of Life," an imaginary plant that symbolizes the worship of trees as depicted by the ancient people. Some scholars believe the pattern represents organisms such as paramecium and euglena or seeds. Others say that these motifs may have been combined and refined. In any case, there is no doubt that they were born out of reverence for nature.
Paisley, a pattern people have traditionally treasured in India, established a sensation in Europe and has now even transformed into American casual style. It has evolved into a universal design, with each region adding its own unique nuances, and continues to fascinate us to this day.
The limited edition gift box for your special winter gift is available to choose at checkout.
Dress up your gift with the enchanting paisley pattern that celebrates nature.
