The Paisley Pattern or Paisley Print is generally believed to be of Ancient Persian or Indian descent. Spreading throughout Southeast Asia, it eventually started to be exported back to Britain when the British took control of India in the early 1800s.

 

Paisley, a little town in Scotland (but also Scotland's largest town) had a strongly developed weaving industry and started to mass-manufacture the tear-dropped patterned shawls that became the high fashion of the time. The pattern quickly became so linked with the town that it started to bear its name. It has continued to do so for over 150 years.

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At their height, the weaving mills employed tens of thousands of Paisley's finest, known affectionately as 'Buddies' within the town and the wider country.  The Anchor Mill, the town's largest mill, became simply known as 'The Mill'. And it was The Mill where the story started for me, as that is where both my parents worked.

 

My name is John Hendrie, and I am a Paisley Buddie. And although all of the thread mills are now gone, many thousands of Buddies, like me, have been affected in some way by what the Paisley Pattern did for our town.

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However, the Paisley Pattern has not only touched nostalgic Buddies. The term 'Paisley' is known the world over and when it is mentioned, everyone immediately thinks about that iconic teardrop shape. 

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And despite how long it has been around, the Paisley Pattern is still as popular as ever. Indeed, it would probably be easier to answer what you cannot get in Paisley than what you can. So, we might be biased, but we think Paisley might be around for an eternity or two yet!

 

Just Paisley is about celebrating everything Paisley. So, yes... everything on the site is about Paisley - everything! Articles will promote Paisley products, local artisans who make Paisley items, and others will simply have a Paisley slant. Hopefully, if you stick around here at Just Paisley, you will find something Paisley to love, collect, laugh at, and whatever else you can do with the Paisley Pattern - and as you will find out, that's a lot! 

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