Paisley shawl

clothing

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

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The Paisley shawl is a textile pattern characterized by colorful, curved abstract figures, named after the shawls manufactured in Paisley, Scotland. These shawls became popular in the early 1800s when patterned shawls from Kashmir, India, made from goat fleece, were imported to Britain.12

To meet the demand, machine-woven equivalents were produced in Paisley using silk, cotton, and wool. These Paisley shawls, with their rich, abstract patterns derived from Mughal art, have continued to influence modern textiles, especially clothing. The distinctive motif often resembles an enlarged comma.1

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paisley
…it is named for the shawls manufactured at the town of Paisley, Scot. When, about 1800, patterned shawls made from the soft fleece of the Kashmir goat began to be imported to Britain from India, machine-woven equivalents were made at Paisley to supply the insatiable demand that had been created…
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…it is named for the shawls manufactured at the town of Paisley, Scot. When, about 1800, patterned shawls made from the soft fleece of the Kashmir goat began to be imported to Britain from India, machine-woven equivalents were made at Paisley to supply the insatiable demand that had been created…
Read More

Paisley
…became famous for its paisley shawls in silk and cotton (and later in wool), which were copies of the Asian shawls sent by British soldiers serving in India. A priceless collection is on exhibit in the Paisley Museum and Art Galleries. Later the manufacture of linen thread gave way to…
Read More
…became famous for its paisley shawls in silk and cotton (and later in wool), which were copies of the Asian shawls sent by British soldiers serving in India. A priceless collection is on exhibit in the Paisley Museum and Art Galleries. Later the manufacture of linen thread gave way to…
Read More

shawl
…woman’s demand for shawls, the Paisley shawl—machine-made in Scotland—was produced; it was an adaptation, rather than an imitation, of the Indian shawl.
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…woman’s demand for shawls, the Paisley shawl—machine-made in Scotland—was produced; it was an adaptation, rather than an imitation, of the Indian shawl.
Read More