Some people think of toile print as old and out of date. Not me, I’ve never met a piece of toile that I didn’t fall in love with.

Let’s start with a very brief history of toile. The word toile itself is a broad term for cloth in French. The toile that is the mainstay of the cottage aesthetic is actually called “toile de Jouy.” Named after the town Jouy-en-Josas, France where German businessman Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf (1738–1815) opened a printed textile factory in the 18th century, and began printing the pastoral toile designs that are so loved today. At first, he used wood blocks for printing. But in 1770, Oberkampf was the first maker in France to use copperplate printing in his shop. Copperplate printing was better because it could show finer shading details and bigger repeatable designs, which made it possible to make more complex and varied pictures. Oberkampf then asked artists to illustrate scenes with people that would show events that were happening at the time. Toile de Jouy took the world by storm with its peaceful scenes and striking contrasts and Oberkampf became famous for making fashionable clothes that fit with the times.

Today, toile de Jouy prints are everywhere – on furniture, curtains, pillows, clothing, and china. Although the illustrations have been modernized over time, the calm and serene prints inspired by flowers and pastoral living still evoke a sense of simpler times and a more rustic way of life. And, well, it’s just pretty to look at.

A more modern twist on toile….

I think this rug is toile print – possibly not, but it’s still pretty…