It’s hard to think of a more comforting design staple than gingham. For Vancouver interior designer Francesca Albertazzi, founder of Studio Albertazzi, the print is imbued with nostalgia.
“Everything is going to be alright if there’s gingham involved,” she says. “You can’t help but think of pie-baking matrons and their aprons, short curtains at windows overlooking a beautiful sea view, tablecloths laid out with fried chicken and potato salad.”
The cottage-y coziness is a relatively new layer to gingham’s long history. It started with a fabric “that dates back to the 1600s, with versions of the textile being produced in Southeast Asia and India,” explains Julia Brucculieri, curator and exhibitions manager and the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto.
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Dutch tradespeople brought it to Europe in the 18th century, after which British mills started mass producing for export, including to North America. “In both Europe and North America, gingham was incorporated into everyday life, particularly in rural communities,” Brucculieri says. “Its affordability and durability made it a good choice for everything from table cloths and aprons to workwear for farmers.”
The cross-continental past helps explain its endurance. “Having connections to multiple countries over time would arguably broaden its reach,” she says. “It’s a straightforward grid pattern with no additional geographic designs or motifs that connect it to a singular culture or people. And it isn’t necessarily gender-specific, which adds to its appeal.”
Deep ties to fashion and celebrity also help. This year, Vogue magazine noted that gingham had “usurped” florals as a summer staple. Albertazzi points out that icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor have all sported the print. “There’s a famous picture of Princess Diana wearing gingham pants in the eighties,” says Brucculieri. “We all know how much people love her style.”
In home decor, designers are constantly finding new ways to incorporate the pattern, doing so in just about every application (toasters, ice buckets, butter dishes).
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“It’s versatile,” says Ashley Montgomery, an interiors expert in Toronto. “By simply changing the scale or colour palette, gingham can feel traditional, contemporary, coastal or European. It’s especially at home in cottage, farmhouse and English-inspired interiors. But it can feel fresh in more modern spaces when used in an oversized check or a neutral colour palette.”
Interior decorator Vanessa Francis, from Milton, Ont., agrees that gingham can have many applications. “I’ve used it on custom cushions for my kitchen counter stools as well as fabric shades in my bathroom and bedroom,” she says. “It adds charm, personality and maybe a bit of whimsy without overwhelming a space.”
Albertazzi cautions it can sometimes be a bit twee, a bit Little House on the Prairie (especially when it’s ruffled). “Gingham can also be quite chic,” she says. “I like to play with scale and when I have a larger print in a space, such as a floral, a small graphic pattern like gingham acts as a great foil.” In other words, it’s always good to have checks that balance.
Six buys to try
When choosing gingham, consider the colours, scale and applications that work best for your style.
The Core Kitchen Gingham Metal Pan
Before a potluck, bakers often wonder how to transport fresh brownies or a crisp without the treat breaking apart as it’s transferred to a Tupperware. The Core Kitchen Gingham Metal Pan solves the issue. A picnic-ready gingham lid fits snugly on the tray, turning the baking implement into a carrying case.
McNutt of Donegal Lambswool blanket
McNutt of Donegal has been weaving fine textiles on the North Atlantic coast of Ireland since 1953. Their designs are imported to Canada by Stratford, Ont., boutique Wills & Prior. The lush greens of their Clodagh throw, made from merino lamb’s wool, bring to mind the grassy fields of the Emerald Isle. Perfect for an accent on an understated sofa.
Sage green gingham checkers woven rug
Whether country or city, a gingham welcome mat has a low-key, casual warmth. This sage option also has real green credibility, as it’s woven from 100-per-cent recycled cotton. The two-feet-by-three-feet size works well in compact entryways.
Yellow gingham ceramic mug
Usually, it’s the contents of a mug – coffee, tea, maybe something stronger – that give a burst of get-the-day-moving energy. The Noss porcelain mug, designed by Kirsty Hawkins at her farm in Tasmania, Australia, is, in itself, a pick-me-up, with criss-crossing yellow lines with a vibrant sunniness.
Soft gingham check wallpaper
Wallpaper can seem like a big commitment. British Columbia-based West Coast Walls, which prints its papers in Canada, offers peel-and-stick options that are easy to install, remove and relocate as needed. Their peach gingham has an over-sized checked pattern in a soft hue that feels both modern and playful.
Handwoven linen napkin
Maiwa, a Vancouver-based textiles brand, offers hand-woven, naturally dyed gingham napkins and other items. “Gingham’s rhythm is simple, familiar and endlessly versatile,” says Sophena Kwon, who runs the company. “The interplay of colour and neutral works well with the depth, texture and life that hand-dyed threads bring to weaving.”