The humble tablecloth actually has a rich history that dates back for hundreds of years. Today's elegant table linens have been used since Victorian times, although there is a long history of fads and fashions that may have affected the patterns, colors, and materials used for these coverings. The Industrial Revolution was one of the biggest turning points in tablecloths, because it allowed them to be mass-produced with a wider selection than ever before of different styles and patterns. Up until this point, tablecloths were simple pieces of cloth, usually composed of linen or cloth. They had to be hand embroidered, which was a time-consuming process, often leading to them becoming family heirlooms.
However, the Industrial Revolution did not slow down the tradition of handmade table linens, but merely made tablecloths more affordable and accessible to the wider public that didn't have time to craft them by hand. The Victorian time period, dating throughout the late 1800's, also had an impact on the table linen fashions of the day. When Queen Victoria lost her Prince Albert and became a widow, she also managed to make it stylish to be a widow. These mourning styles seen in fashion also showed up in furnishings like tablecloths, which were seen in somber colors and patterns.
Crimsons, browns, and plush velvet materials were also used during this time period. However, as the world entered the 20th century, the fashion of table linens also changed accordingly. Art Nouveau and Art Deco fashions dominated the turn of the century, and this often was showcased in tablecloths decorated with floral patterns and bright geometric prints. During the Great Depression of the 1930's, the popular trend was for women to sew their own tablecloths, in the interest of saving money, so there was a return to hand-embroidered patterns.
Today's table linens draw from all of these inspirations of the past, but also have added in the spirit of technology. It's now possible to have extremely complex patterns or designs even in materials such as PVC or other plastics. Cotton table coverings are still quite popular, and are now printed in dyes that are easier to launder and less resistant to fading than ever before. In order to choose the best table covering for your next special occasion, it can be inspirational to look back at this long history of table linen options, to add a vintage flair to modern patterns.
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