A distinctive curved teardrop pattern used in textiles and design, resembling a stylized pinecone or comma.
Named after Paisley, Scotland, where this pattern was mass-produced in the 19th century. However, the design originated in ancient Persia and India as a 'boteh' or 'buta' pattern representing a cypress tree or flame. Scottish textile mills copied expensive Indian shawls and made the pattern so popular that the whole design became known by their town's name!
The paisley pattern is named after a Scottish town that became famous for copying Indian designs. What started as sacred Persian symbols of life and eternity became so associated with Scottish textile mills that we forgot the original meaning and just call it after the place that mass-produced knockoffs!
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