TREND ALERT:Contemporary Toile

With the resurgence of wallpaper and the recent development of an aesthetic that Gen-Z is calling “Cottage-Core” – a style that features rustic materials and eclectic decor with an emphasis on coziness – it should come as no surprise that a renewed interest in toile (pronounced twal) has also come to light.

Toile is a shortened term from ‘Toile de Juoy’, which is a literal translation of cloth from ‘Jouy-en-Josas’, the French town where the printed fabric was originally manufactured in the 18th century. The fabrics often featured floral motifs, maidens or heroes in the typical provincial landscapes, and usually had a strong sense of place embedded into their imagery, giving original prints a sense of historical significance. You might recognize these monochromatic prints from your grandmother’s china—always rendered in a single shade.

Today, toile has regained some design traction. While many gravitate towards traditional incarnations of this famed artform, modern manufacturers are putting a contemporary spin on the classic look. Just as original designs told stories of their lived realities, we’re seeing modern prints pop up that feature depictions of city life, expanding the colorways and narratives woven into them. Some of the sketch-style drawings are offering artists a way to construct powerful social commentaries, challenging the austerity of the form with unexpected inclusions like UFOs and Banksy-style subversions.

Whether you’re interested in toile for its historical charm or creative flare, it provides homeowners and designers an exciting new way to infuse a space with a classic edge that feels anything but boring.

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