1748 Garthwaite Floral Cotton

Product Description

This design is inspired by a mid-18th-century silk pattern by Anna Maria Garthwaite, one of the leading designers of the English silk industry. Adapted for cotton, it preserves the refined floral movement of the original while offering a lighter and more versatile textile for garment construction.

The pattern features delicate trailing branches with stylised blossoms arranged in a balanced, flowing composition. The spacing allows clarity in cutting and construction, making it especially suitable for garments where pattern placement and elegance are essential.

Well suited for

Mantua, Jackets, Banyan

Design & Historical Context

The original design was executed as a watercolour drawing on paper and used as a guide for woven silk production in Spitalfields, London. Garthwaite’s work is known for its naturalistic yet stylised floral compositions, developed for high-end dress textiles in the 18th century.

Maria Christina Bruhn (1732–1808) was a Swedish inventor and the first woman in Sweden to receive a patent. Her work with fire- and waterproof materials was used by the Swedish army for storing gunpowder.

Her life reflects the innovation and intellectual development of the 18th century, a period in which textile design, craftsmanship and technical advancement were closely connected.