1742 Garthwaite Floral Cotton

Product Description

This design is inspired by early 18th-century patterns by Anna Maria Garthwaite, one of the most prolific designers in the English silk industry. Adapted for cotton, it retains the elegance of silk design while offering a lighter and more versatile textile for garment construction.

The pattern features slender, meandering branches with small-scale blossoms arranged in a flowing repeat. The composition creates a soft rhythm across the fabric, making it especially suitable for garments where movement and proportion are important.

Well suited for

Mantua, Banyan, Robe à l’Anglaise, Jackets

Design & Historical Context

Created around 1742, the original design was part of the Spitalfields silk industry in London, where Garthwaite produced numerous commissioned patterns for master weavers. Her work is characterised by a strong observation of natural forms, translated into refined textile compositions for elite dress.

Mary Hayley was an English businesswoman whose company supplied tea to Boston prior to the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

She was among the few British merchants to navigate the American Revolutionary period without financial loss, reflecting the commercial networks that also supported the textile trade of the 18th century.