Paisley Duvet Cover

What is Paisley?

Paisley is a type of pattern that is Persian and Indian in origin. It resembles half of a yin yang symbol, and some American quilt makers call the Paisley a “Persian pickle”.

Basically, it is a sideways tear drop shape with a curve on the skinny side. It can be filled with a pattern, surrounded by graphics, or just left by itself. The shape is like a twisted kind of teardrop, and it has been around for a long time.

The name Paisley, itself, comes from a town located in central Scotland, but the design itself has been around for a long time.

The shape has been found in Sanskrit writings on many occasions, and is believed to have something to do with the Hindu religion, or at least, it used to.

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A lot of different people see different meanings in the Paisley, mostly due to what culture they grew up in and what information they had on the origin of the shape.

During the 17th century, the Paisley was imported to the European Baltic states at such a rate that the East India Company was unable to keep up with demand. The symbols were said to ward off evil spirits, though nowadays, the symbol to some people is a symbol of rebellion among the youth.

In modern style, the paisley is discernable, but different than it used to be. The difference does not so much lie in the shape itself, but in the patterns surrounding it.

These patterns have gotten more and more busy and complex, leaving little room for just the origiainl symbol or its recognition. Unlike halves of the yin yang, which are usually displayed as simple shapes in front of a sold background, the paisley is almost always shrouded and masked by a myriad of other symbols, patterns, and shaped.

Paisly patterns are now found in all types of fabrics, and used for things such as a paisley duvet, curtains, handbags, and even clothing, as shown in the pictures and videos on this page.

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