the design center at philadelphia university houses 200,000+ objects related to textiles and fashion. if you would like more information about our collection, please contact us through the ask me anything feature. all photographs copyright the design center. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-22998721-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Follow us on Twitter Follow @designcenterphu Like us on Facebook (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Follow us on Pinterest Tumblr (3.0; @thedesigncenter)http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/33b52cb15f68cc248d5521aae7b31117/tumblr_mn7zaibn3i1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Abstract print on cotton. France. September 9, 1896-1897.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51237955055http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51237955055Fri, 24 May 2013 14:15:55 -0400printpatterndesigntextilefrench<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c80a632a33191d9c02a9ff1bcbf499f5/tumblr_mn7z9vsBIu1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Geometric print on ribbed cotton. Unknown manufacturer. Late 19th century.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51232044773http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51232044773Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:28 -0400printpatterntextiledesignfabricvintage<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/04dcea7748c7376a524478f7f00728e8/tumblr_mn9eifUTst1qhwqx1o3_400.gif"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e4faba287b59c4ee1eade723da40b1e2/tumblr_mn9eifUTst1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/900ca5469cad15754e9f25ddcabcdc6b/tumblr_mn9eifUTst1qhwqx1o2_400.gif"/><br/> <br/><p>Furniture Friday: Windowpane</p> <p>On Fridays, we will be focusing on pattern applied to objects for your home.</p> <p>This Friday we paired a Parisian windowpane swatch from 1900 with glassware from the new <a href="http://www.saturday.com">Kate Spade Saturday</a> line.  The <a href="http://www.saturday.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Shop-Site/en_US/Search-Show?q=windowpane">windowpane motif</a> features prominently in their debut collection from pillows to napkins to beach blankets. Kate Spade even had their design team customize the windowpane collection with colorful markers! Check out the fun results on the <a href="http://www.saturday.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Shop-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=saturday-blog-Block-Party%21">Saturday blog</a>!</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51227307942http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51227307942Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:46 -0400kate spadekate spade saturdaywindowpaneblack and whitedesignfurniture fridayglasses<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/e66edf9ae91b11e5d34f79aba2f0f179/tumblr_mn7z95fDp61qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Polka dot print on cotton pique. Unknown manufacturer. 1932.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51226549372http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51226549372Fri, 24 May 2013 10:45:22 -04001930svintagepolka dotprintpattern<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/4a54a74dab8c3e15e26ec136ec17a490/tumblr_mmhtwxQH1p1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Undulating Stripe Print on Cotton. Early 19th century, unknown manufacturer. </p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51160857953http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51160857953Thu, 23 May 2013 14:15:53 -0400Textile DesignPrintOmbreSerpentineCotton<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/03f6084b91b8410e24caf80580a12082/tumblr_mmhtqziP511qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Geometric Print on Cotton. Manufactured in 1883 by Edmund Potter & Co. Manchester. </p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51155032116http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51155032116Thu, 23 May 2013 12:30:26 -0400Textile DesignPrintGeometricEnglish PrintCotton<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/6f2c16c3359e02adcc1d5c1b99651954/tumblr_mn9dewVW471qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Floral print on cotton. Unknown manufacturer. France. 1895.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51153010525http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51153010525Thu, 23 May 2013 11:52:08 -0400printpatterndesigntextilepurple<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c460bd79d1963bee450229fb73d5b1cf/tumblr_mmhtgdFBJK1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>English Print on Cotton. Manufactured on Oct. 7th 1884 by <span>Schwabe & Son, 41 George St., Manchester. </span><span> </span></p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51149777103http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51149777103Thu, 23 May 2013 10:45:24 -0400Textile DesignCottonEnglish PrintPrintUndulating LinesTriangles<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f5bee5ba82faeae7702044807bfcf7dd/tumblr_mn7sthg8qC1qhwqx1o1_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f1ff7480f520ca1878a680978eb0e25f/tumblr_mn7sthg8qC1qhwqx1o2_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4477fcd2b7361a2bd322dfe36b383fb8/tumblr_mn7sthg8qC1qhwqx1o4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/5f21677764e30bebafcca81019c77d52/tumblr_mn7sthg8qC1qhwqx1o3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Wardrobe Wednesday: Molas</p> <p>The print on this <a href="http://www.freepeople.com/mola-buttondown-tank-dress/_/searchString/mara%20hoffman/QUERYID/519d1e9e575c1f4ca9000183/SEARCHPOSITION/6/CMCATEGORYID/683d4023-53f5-4900-b5ce-ecf465df31a9/STYLEID/26006650/productOptionIDs/F93C517E-BF11-4CB1-B91C-23B8DBD65F8E/">Mara Hoffman dress</a> references colorful reverse appliqué textiles from the San Blas Islands in Panama. These textiles called molas are often made into blouses, such as this 20th century example from our collection. </p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51087482863http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51087482863Wed, 22 May 2013 15:33:19 -0400molasappliquepanamamara hoffmanwardrobe wednesday<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/821324e33a68e212b607bf0a56e2eceb/tumblr_mmhtb3UGxw1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Irregular Ogee Pattern on Cotton. Late 19th century, unknown manufacturer. </p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51082560045http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51082560045Wed, 22 May 2013 14:15:27 -0400Textile DesignPrintOgeeCotton<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/0a772fa991b39a0c8d15af7da54e6b97/tumblr_mmht8a1Cr41qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Undulating, Irregular Stripe Print on Cotton. January 28, 1889. Unknown manufacturer. </p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51076721215http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51076721215Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:14 -0400Textile DesignCottonPrintStripeWavesTexture<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/ffdaaa01eb1b54a4388d0e667ba3ceb1/tumblr_mmhrn71nii1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Geometric Print on Cotton. Rouen, France. 1901. Unknown manufacturer. </p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51071418794http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51071418794Wed, 22 May 2013 10:45:14 -0400Textile DesignPrintCottonFrench PrintGeometric<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/30086055addcdf42e3ab9b7a2a7fc7ee/tumblr_mmhrdpJ0YV1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Geometric print on cotton. February, 1901. Unknown manufacturer, Manchester. </p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51002358010http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/51002358010Tue, 21 May 2013 14:16:21 -0400Textile DesignPrintGeometricBlack and WhitePlaidTexture<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/1c10f4d7c3efe742c57c5597dfaea6a7/tumblr_mmfzoxV4i81qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>“Meadow” vinyl wallcovering. ASAM Brothers. Southampton, Pennsylvania. Mid century.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50996331055http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50996331055Tue, 21 May 2013 12:30:25 -0400strawberrieswallcoveringsouthamptonpennsylvania<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/cf57786644569b41d849b77d3b80b4b3/tumblr_mmfzm8hDFR1qhwqx1o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/f00c2edf259b8ce12d2924b7a05b7636/tumblr_mmfzm8hDFR1qhwqx1o3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/f518f43385e948f63dd44a8078bbd3ee/tumblr_mmfzm8hDFR1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>“New Amsterdam” vinyl wallcovering. ASAM Brothers. Southampton, Pennsylvania. Mid century.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50990977649http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50990977649Tue, 21 May 2013 10:45:20 -0400wallpaperwallcoveringhousesshipsnauticalpennsylvania<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e242a69b036868bf5647d9c9e209b342/tumblr_mmfyd4ZZh61qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Textilene Sunsure - Fibre Fabric. “The Fabric That Laughs at the Sun.”</p> <div class="caption"> <p>E.W. Twitchell, Inc. 3rd & Somerset Sts. Philadelphia. Mid century.</p> </div>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50920790274http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50920790274Mon, 20 May 2013 14:15:12 -0400textilephiladelphiawoven<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/34a0930046f972c80698cefcfbd1a1ee/tumblr_mmfy9uLnsj1qhwqx1o4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3d4032c1d7be1962d0cc0c6901da3792/tumblr_mmfy9uLnsj1qhwqx1o5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/073c8fb43ac7e11a47f026a06e5b7d83/tumblr_mmfy9uLnsj1qhwqx1o7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/089d661797af81a488da6cd8aa690fba/tumblr_mmfy9uLnsj1qhwqx1o8_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><div class="caption"> <p>Textilene Sunsure - Fibre Fabric. “The Fabric That Laughs at the Sun.”</p> <p>E.W. Twitchell, Inc. 3rd & Somerset Sts. Philadelphia. Mid century.</p> </div>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50914564294http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50914564294Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:39 -0400textilesphiladelphiawoven<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/30456ca402a4ffa8b84e80b626e89bd4/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2735a42d9784ebfff8b0c7c0fef39d3f/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/5577994e1abe814cfa47629096bc9c62/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/3ff1b78f53ae6c82f29d3f496043593a/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/77cf256f6496bab6fbadd2f475fc1f5b/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d8ca0a3ce6b80fbc08b2f71fee8414c8/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o8_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d79fae7562f953bb2f838159a04a6d97/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/eba657a58385c09d38ece9ec6e11c121/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o9_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/73d4a42357bc233b96bc473abfd3d8e9/tumblr_mmfy46zztk1qhwqx1o10_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Textilene Sunsure - Fibre Fabric. “The Fabric That Laughs at the Sun.”</p> <div class="caption"> <p>E.W. Twitchell, Inc. 3rd & Somerset Sts. Philadelphia. Mid century.</p> </div>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50908928301http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50908928301Mon, 20 May 2013 10:45:33 -0400textilewovenphiladelphia<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e77fc2fc934b4c8a9b387e20ea43b1b3/tumblr_mm3801SVL51qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Floral and vermicular print on cotton. Unknown manufacturer. Late 19th century.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50836963141http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50836963141Sun, 19 May 2013 14:15:28 -0400floralvermiculardesignprintpatterntextile<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/0886f866b2707da52460c21bebd1c970/tumblr_mm37yyxuLA1qhwqx1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Striped print on cotton. France. 1895.</p>http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50829016948http://thedesigncenter.tumblr.com/post/50829016948Sun, 19 May 2013 12:30:17 -0400yellowprintpatternstripesdesigntextile