Textile Diaries- For the Love of Cabana Stripes
TEXTILE DIARIES COLUMN Let’s Talk About The History and Our Love For Cabana Stripes
sources in Cabana Stripe board
I love timeless Cabana Stripes, and they remind me of beach umbrellas and canopies often seen dotting the coast of Southern Italy and France. When I see them on fabric, I think of sailors donning the iconic striped outfits, and I also think of traveling with old-fashioned luggage on steamer ships.
I did my research on this nautical stripe, and let me tell you about this iconic pattern we often see in both homes and in fashion. It's true, this pattern has a long history settling into beach-side living.
The history: Many believe they were inspired by the nautical stripes worn by sailors on the French Riviera in the 1880’s, and it was the official navy uniform (Breton Stripes) so they could be found if falling overboard. Stripes were used in 19th-century Europe in landscape seaside paintings as well. The bolder, wider “Cabana Stripes” became popular as the beach culture developed through the 19th century often on textiles with colorful alternating colored-stripes with a bold white and another color, and they were primarily used on outdoor furniture in cabanas to give sunbathers a bit of shading.
Dorothy Drpaer for
The Greenbrier Hotel
Cut to the 1940’s & 1950’s in America- the styled and wide stripe became a craze and often used in resorts to symbolize casual, yet leisurely living and tied to a glamorous lifestyle. When the private pools in homes increased, the need for textiles that could withstand the heat and sun increased as well, and the canvas stripes soared. A perfect pairing of a functional canvas stripe with the appeal of lounging and vacationing, and soon the Cabana Stripe became the mid-century modern vibe associated with glamour. During that era, Fashion Designer Coco Chanel incorporated the look into her clothing line making it the ultimate chic fashion and giving the term “cabana” (a small beach side hut) more sophistication. Interior Designer Dorothy Draper used Cabana Stripes in the famous Greenbrier Hotel project and created a green and white striped lobby. 
Slim Aarons, Palm Beach
Today, the Cabana Stripe holds a nostalgic feel for that era- think a Slim Aarons photograph of guests lounging by a gorgeous pool. The pattern feels retro, and can be seen in the beach house and pool-side aesthetic. The Cabana Stripe continues to grow in popularity even more so with the advancement of textile technology allowing a plethora of materials available for indoor/outdoor living for outdoor furniture, pillows, upholstery and of course for fashion as well in bathing suits and accessories. Both traditional colors of blue and white or red and white are popular as well as bold, vibrant colors of alternating hues. What once started as a practical design has morphed into an iconic, glamorous pattern, and I’m here for it!
More on stripes in my Circus Stripe post!
Happy NestingXO Tamara
