1930s Printed fabrics

The 1930’s was a particularly special time for printed patterns, as a wider selection of colours and fabrics were used. New technological advances revolutionised the textile trade as 1930s printed fabrics began to be made using the screen-printing method. Previously, printing was done using block printing and other slow-moving methods such as stencil printing. Screen-printing made it possible for whole pieces, or rolls of fabric to be printed and produced very quickly and smoothly, allowing for repeated patterns to be applied in a variety of colours one after the other. This is achieved by using a number of gauze meshes stretched tightly over a frame acting like a patterned stencil placed over the fabric. In order to create the pattern, the dye is placed onto the gauze and pushed through openings directly onto the fabric. Once that coloured dye has been applied the machine then pushes the fabric along to the next colour in use.

Floral patterns were a very popular choice for 1930s fabric prints and production. Patterned clothing was mostly worn by women, and as a result tended to be feminine in appearance. Due to the choice in colour, however and access to bolder more elaborate patterns, a mix of contrasting colours was often employed usually with a white background or highlights of the colour white included. These patterns and these historic printed fabrics look amazing worn with white gloves and a white belt.

At The Vintage Pattern Shop, we absolutely love the styles from our 1930s vintage fabrics and know just how good one of these iconic patterns can look when using the same styles and fabrics that were used back in the day. Along with our choice of printed fabrics, 1930s vintage patterns can be matched to bring back to life the styles and beauty of those bygone times.