This is how we went from sewing quilts to wearing them.
( faithjaggernauth / Instagram )
From color-block jeans to lettuce- trim crop tops, patchwork is ravaging the fashion world, yet again. In case you missed it, patchwork is the combination of numerous patterns, colors, and/or materials to create one special piece. Equal parts chaotic and harmonized, patchwork brings a bit of freshness to any outfit.
Originally, patchwork in fashion was born out of necessity. Throughout history, those who couldn’t afford to buy brand new articles of clothing would repair them by stitching together patches from other discarded materials. This practice can actually be traced back to over 5,000 years ago in ancient Egypt!
Patchwork plunged to the mainstream fashion surface in the ‘70s with Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and re-emerged in the grunge era of the ‘90s. Since then, it’s bobbed in and out of style. Luckily for us, we’re witnessing the re-appearance of classic patchwork styles with a few modern twists.
Patchwork is super versatile in the sense that it looks great on both tops and bottoms.
It works especially well when incorporated into jeans and detailed with messy stitching, as popularized by trendy instagram influencers. You can stabilize your outfit with a solid color top to complement your jeans, or add to the chaos with a similarly multicolored top.
If you’re wondering where to take inspo from when styling patchwork, the grunge era is a great place to start. It’s haphazard nature matches perfectly with the overall mayhem that comes with grunge era fashion. Bust out those combat boots and get to sewing, everyone!
Not only is patchwork fresh and exciting, it’s also environmentally friendly. If you ever decide to start a DIY project, patchwork is a great theme to follow. If you don’t want to start by sewing, Etsy has great options for affordable, cute iron-on patches.
Overall, patchwork is a super fun way to spruce up what would be ordinary clothes. It creates unlikely, yet beautiful combinations and also promotes sustainability. Next time you go shopping, consider adding a patchwork piece to join the rest of your closet.
Christelle Pierre is an Online Writer at Rowdy Magazine. When not writing, one can find Christelle holding a YA novel in one hand and an iced coffee in the other. She can be reached on Instagram @x.hristelle