paisleys

Paisleys refers to a distinctive teardrop-shaped motif used in textile design, known in its origins as the boteh or teardrop motif. The design circulated in Persian and Indian fabrics and became widely associated with Kashmiri shawls exported to Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. The term paisley is derived from the Scottish town of Paisley, which developed a large textile industry in the 18th and 19th centuries and helped popularize the pattern in Western markets.

The motif is characterized by a curved, leaf-like shape that combines elements of a stylized leaf and a teardrop, often arranged in repetitive, flowing patterns. Variants include changes in scale, color, and arrangement, as well as adaptations that blend the boteh with other motifs. In fashion and decor, paisleys and paisleys-patterned fabrics appear on scarves, shawls, ties, dresses, wallpapers, and upholstery.

Historical development and reception vary by region. In the 19th century, Paisley, Scotland, became synonymous with patterned textiles featuring boteh motifs, helping to standardize the association of the term with the pattern. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the paisley design has endured in popular culture, undergoing stylistic shifts and color explorations while remaining a recognizable motif in both traditional and contemporary contexts.

Today, the word paisleys is commonly used to describe multiple items that feature the paisley pattern, as well as to refer to fabrics and goods produced in the Paisley tradition. The design continues to appear across fashion, home textiles, and decorative arts, often celebrated for its organic shapes and historical associations.