Closing Out 2024 & Welcoming 2025, Turning the Page to a New Year of Fabric, History, and Creativity
As we wrap up 2024, we look back at a year filled with incredible projects, creative collaborations, and the deep joy of sharing the world of reproduction fabrics with all of you. We're excited to kick off 2025 with fresh inspiration, new offerings, and a continued dedication to bringing the past to life through beautiful textiles.
Looking Back: Turn of the 20th Century (1900-1930)
This year one of focuses was our Turn of the 20th Century collection. This was a transformative time for the textile industry in America, with notable shifts in design, color palettes, and printing techniques to simpler, more restrained patterns, and a palette that favored cool, subdued tones. Fabrics from this time often featured:
- Soft Blues, Grays, and Blacks: These muted colors became popular for both everyday wear and special occasions. They were often paired with accents of rich reds or deep browns for a touch of warmth.
- Small, Neat Shirting Prints: These fabrics, typically found in shirts and blouses, featured delicate, repeating patterns that offered a sophisticated yet understated elegance.
- The Double Pink Phenomenon: Double pinks—fabrics featuring a blend of two shades of pink—were a defining feature of the period. These designs were particularly popular in calicoes and quilts.
The era also saw the impact of the 1893 economic downturn—the Panic of 1893—which led to widespread closures of fabric printing companies and layoffs in the design industry. As a result, textile manufacturers simplified their designs and color palettes. What emerged from these challenging years was a new wave of more minimalistic and versatile prints, marking a shift in how fabrics were produced and consumed.
Sears and Roebuck Company catalog began to offer dry goods in 1893. This changed the options for people in small towns on where they bought their fabrics beyond just their local general store and gave them access to more fashion forward desings. I have a page from the 1915 catalog with wonderful samples of the fabrics they were selling at this time!
Shirtings Overview
Shirting fabrics have long been a vital part of everyday life for items like workshirts and understanding the differences between these two distinct periods of shirting design can offer insights into the broader shifts in textile trends, technology, and even social changes.
Late 19th Century Shirtings: Bigger Motifs & Bold Colors
In the late 19th century, shirting fabrics were characterized by larger, more eye-catching motifs. This was an era of opulence in fashion, but also a time when more durable, practical fabrics began to emerge for working-class wear. The design trends of this period were influenced by the growing industrial revolution, which allowed for more intricate printing processes, and an overall penchant for decorative aesthetics.
FQs Novelty shirtings...late 19th century. Motifs...pencils, anchors, stars/moons and kitties
Early 20th Century Shirtings: Smaller, Tighter, Monochromatic Designs
By the time the early 20th century rolled around, particularly after the 1893 economic downturn, the fabric industry underwent a significant shift. Shirting prints became much smaller, tighter, and more restrained. This was a period of economic adjustment, and the fabric industry responded with simpler, more functional designs that were also more affordable to produce.
Bundle of Turn of the 20th Century Shirtings (24 Fat 1/8ths)
Highlighting Three Fabric Lines from our 1900-1930 Collection
We’re thrilled to present three key fabric collections inspired by the colorations, designs, and styles of 1900 fabrics. Whether you're planning to craft a period-specific project or simply enjoy the appeal of turn-of-the-century prints, these collections will provide the perfect foundation for your creations.
1. Whistler Studios Circa Oynx
Cool Colorations, Neat and Tidy Designs
The Onyx collection features the cool, muted tones that were so characteristic of fabrics from the early 20th century. Think soft blues, gentle grays, and understated blacks—colors that exude elegance without being overpowering. This collection focuses on small, precise designs with a restrained beauty, including delicate geometric patterns, fine florals, and understated dots. These fabrics are perfect for those who love the understated sophistication of early 1900s styles.
2. Temecula Quilt Company Liberty Legacy
Traditional Colorations, Elegant Designs
The Liberty Legacy collection is a nod to the classic colorations and floral motifs that defined fabrics from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This collection draws on typical color palettes of the time, including rich reds, deep blues, soft greens, and ivory—colors that were popular for everything from clothing to home textiles. The prints are inspired by the timeless beauty of Liberty of London fabrics, known for their intricate designs and quality.
3. Starlight Gathering
Basic Blue/Whites, Plus Shirtings
The Starlight Gatherings collection is a beautiful blend of basic blue and white fabrics, along with shirting prints that were commonly used for both everyday wear and formal attire in the 1900s. This collection offers a mix of simple blue-and-white designs, ranging from soft florals to neat stripes and dots, as well as classic shirting prints with delicate, repeating patterns. These fabrics are perfect for creating garments, quilts, or accessories that have a subtle yet charming appeal.
Celebrating Our Community
As always, we want to thank you, our loyal customers, for making 2024 such a memorable year. Your projects, feedback, and enthusiasm continue to inspire us. We are constantly amazed by the incredible work you do with our fabrics, and we can’t wait to see what you create in 2025.
New in 2025: Complex Stripe Star Block of the Month Program
I'm excited to announce I'll be doing a Block of the Month Club. Each month I'll send out a shipment with the fabrics and instructions to complete a different complex star stripe block. We will explore design possibilities utilizing the potential within printed complex stripes on fabric. Goal is to be creative and share our creations. Each month you will recieve a new Complex Stripe fabric and a Textile History essay. More details will be coming in early January, I can't wait to get this started. Here's a preview of the first block.
Wishing you a Creative & Productive New Year!
As we enter 2025, we are filled with excitement for the projects ahead. Whether you're designing a historical masterpiece, embarking on a personal creative journey, or simply exploring the beauty of reproduction fabrics, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Thank you for being part of the ReproductionFabrics.com community. Here’s to a bright, creative, and fabric-filled year ahead!
With appreciation,
Margo and the Reproduction Fabrics Team