PAISLEY SHAWLS REVIVED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 6 (Supplement)

PAISLEY SHAWLS REVIVED.

That garment of antiquity, the Paisley shawl, promises to become as popular as the übiquitous jumper. From tho Continent Paisley shawls of fine wool are taming to London in sufficient numbers for every woman to possess one.

Though originally their patterns were skilfully woven on Kashmir shawls of fabulous price, many centum?, jtgo, these of the 20fch century are sol.] for two and three guineas.

The original cream and white backgrounds have been supplanted by vivid scarlet, purple, greens, and amber, in keeping with the present-day trend for bright colours.

Tho old black background, over, is !>ti'.l favoured. There are also beautiful grey and gold samples, a wealth of other shades being used in the characteristic cone pattern of Kashmir.

These shawls ars already being used by high-class designers for three-piece suits, evening gowns and cloaks, separate jackets, sports wraps, and not a few are being bought for household draperies and curtains.

" The demand to-day for Paisley shawls is even greater than it was in the lUth century," recently stated a dres3 expert. . . "At that time France and Austria started to imitate the pattern, and the Paisleys of Scotland, started in 1700, became famous in all the capitals of the world."

Shawls were worn in the far distant past, and were apparently first made by the Hindoos of Kashmir. It was a long and almost sacred process, tho natives dressing and making into thread the underhair of the shawl goat. After dyeing, tho intricate pattern-making was a long and nerve-trying task.

There are in India shawls worth £15,000 in the possession of Royal princes, and generally used on special occasions. The Maharajah of Jammu had the pavilion of the royal cimp at Sativ&ri draped in previous shawls on tho occasion of tho visit of tho Prince of Wales last year. Modern makers have also introduced "Bulgarian, Czecho-Slovakian, Spanish, and Chinese patterns in these inexpensive shawls for fashionable London.