So, shawls were extremely popular in the Regency. Since that was the age of the British empire, not only were there lace, whitework, silk, and embroidered shawls produced all over England, but there were plenty of foreign shawls as well. One look at fashion plates from the period reveals mentions of shawls of all kinds, from Kashmir to Pashmina to Chinese silk. Eventually, when supply couldn’t meet demand, the jacquard loom was invented, and various Europeans were able to mimic the more expensive Indian and Chinese shawls. That is how paisley shawls in particular, using a Chinese design, were born in Paisley, Scotland. For more information about shawls in Regency England, be sure to check out Mimi Matthews’s informative article. At the very least, go check it out for all the gorgeous period artwork of ladies wearing shawls!
