Jouy

Jouy is a French toponym and surname. The term is most widely recognized in textiles through Toile de Jouy, a printed cotton fabric associated with the late 18th century.

Toile de Jouy originated in the town of Jouy-en-Josas, near Paris, where Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf established the Royal Manufacture de Jouy in the 1760s. The fabrics feature repeated scenic panels printed in a single color—commonly red, blue, or black—on a white background. Early prints were drawn from pastoral scenes, landscapes, and classical motifs. The production and export of Toile de Jouy helped shape European interior decoration and textile markets during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In modern usage, the term often refers to the overall decorative style inspired by those original patterns, including wallpapers and upholstery fabrics.

Jouy-en-Josas is a commune in the Île-de-France region, located to the southwest of Paris. The toponym Jouy appears in other French place names as well, reflecting its use in local geographic naming. The word also appears as a surname in France and in communities connected to the historical production and trade of the fabrics.