Let's Talk About The History of the French Breton Stripe and How It Became Popular In Our Homes
Princess of Wales wearing Breton Stripe
via Vogue France
Textile Column:
What You May Not Know About the French Stripe-
the Marinière or also known as the Breton Stripe.
I'm heading to Paris and Provence for a little design and food inspiration in the Fall, and of course while planning my trip I must pack a horizontally striped blue and white Breton T-shirt in my luggage. This simple cotton stripe pairs well with both skirts and flowy pants and makes for a chic and quintessentially French aesthetic. But, let me tell you a little bit more about the classic Breton Stripe…
Picasso in Breton Stripe
via HOUSE & GARDEN
design, DAVIN HOUGHTON
Thomas Loof
via House Beautiful
in the hamptons
via Remodalista
The History of the marinière stripe in France- In 1858, and under the Second French Empire of Napoleon III, The French government implemented a strict military regulation. The stripe allowed Sailors to be seen when falling overboard. The decree standardized this now iconic tricot bleu (the blue knitted jersey) as part of the official uniform for many seamen in the French National Navy. For centuries this fabric was pure necessity and created in Quimper, France with a very-specifice 21 stripe fabrication. The Construction- The weave of the Breton striped shirt is a dense, unbleached cotton knit designed to shield French sailors from the harsh sea winds and spraying salt. With 21 white stripes (each one as wide as the blue bands that separate them), they chose blue stripes to accompany it because indigo was an inexpensive color using stable dye that resisted bleaching from the sun and the sea. They used a woven fabric created on a circular knitting machine because this jersey holds a unique stretch and lacks hardware or buttons for snagging.
How the Breton Stripe Came To Women’s Fashion- It wasn’t until French fashion designer, Coco Chanel added it to her collection, did French women fall in love. In 1917, Chanel was inspired by the fishermen of Deauville and loved the textile’s drape so she dropped the shoulder line to liberate women from the stiff, corseted silhouettes of the Belle Époque era. Chanel took the rugged jersey and used luxury silk and fine-gauge wool instead. The horizontal stripe became a visual marker of modern, effortless elegance.
How The Breton Stripe Came To Our Homes- By the mid-20th century, the textile's design made it into the French Home. The transition from apparel to home decor was seamless. Some say the stark geometry makes it a perfect pattern for the clean lines of French interior design. Interior designers love the rhythmic balance of the Breton stripe and how it brings a modern flair to a home. We see the Breton Stripe often in a rugged, heavy-duty canvas or twill weave as a durable upholstery for a beach house or a sun room. Designers also appreciate how the horizontal stripe on pillows and upholstery and wallpaper can expand and elongate a low-ceiling wall with its unique architectural quality.
“I love it that the Breton Stripe brings a balance between historical reference and relaxed sophistication to our homes”. -Tamara Stephenson
the Elle Decor Suite in Paris
Gaultier's fashion stripe inspired by Breton Stripe
In 2019, Fashion Designer Jean Paul Gaultier brought The Breton stripe into the home market in a big way. He launched a French furniture line with Roche Bobois and added the stripe to cushions, rugs and his iconic low-slung modular Mah Jong Sofa. He even created a tabletop line of porcelain with the blue and white stripe. He then took over the Elle Decoration suite in Paris for the launch slathering the walls, halls and furniture with his signature nautical stretch fabric. He expanded his ink stripes into lifestyle with rugs, trays during his 2015 Grand Palais retrospective. Today, the pattern has become a staple of the "coastal chic" or "French country" and even “post modern” aesthetics.
related story: my French Living story
sources: House & Garden, Vogue, Roche Bobois, Elle Decor, Cottages & Garden, House Beautiful, Vogue France
sources: House & Garden, Vogue, Roche Bobois, Elle Decor, Cottages & Garden, House Beautiful, Vogue France
