The origin of bohemian style originated in the 19th-Century French rebellions. The French Revolution and its subsequent revivals in the late 1700s and early 1800s mainly concerned the French people and middle class rebelling against the monarchy in France, wanting a more representative government. Before these wars, the public was fascinated by the wealthy and royal and wanted to imitate their styles. After the revolution, people were disillusioned by the upper class. Artists, writers, and intellectuals specifically wanted to distance themselves from a government that ruled without the best interests of the people. They took to imitating the Romani people (believed to have immigrated from Bohemia) living in the lower-income neighborhoods; wearing ragged, old, ill-fitting clothing, living in voluntary poverty.
Bohemian clothing in those times took their influence from Romantic, Medieval, and Asian style clothing. Large costume jewelry, head wraps, layers, and billowing sleeves were common themes. The word Bohemian came to describe not just a style, but a type of person: usually an artist of some sort, who roamed Europe looking for work or inspiration and kindred spirits.
Today, people who describe their style as Bohemian purposely wear lovely fabrics and enjoy mixing the prints in all sorts of ways. Long drippy necklaces and head ties or ribbons with oversized bracelets mixed with a clutter of others. On occasion, you can hear someone who dares to wear a Bohemian mix in motion wearing their trinkets. The look is loose clothing, or belted dresses and skirts with lots of scarves and wraps, layers of fabric, hand-sewn beautiful clothing, and pattern mixing.
Here at SewTG, the inspiration came from Tina's lifelong love of fabric, especially organic cloth like linen and cotton. Prints do come into play with intention and enhance the solid layers worn together. Linen slips with patterned translucent fabric, wide floaty pants, and fluffy skirts. An artist in her own right, Tina created clothing for herself from an early age. Her career eventually led to textile design and art, after a corporate spree which has since enhanced her entrepreneurial life.
Launching SEWTG 12 years ago now, Tina was encouraged at all the Trade shows she attended including International Quilt Market, by admirers of her unique Bohemian look. She began drafting patterns with the intention of making sewing fun and not a laborious task. Her first pieces include the Annabelle Slip, Jaqueline top, slip and pants, the Abacorn, the Smock-It dress, and others which were intended to be simple makes with details only Tina musters up in special placement of darts, gathers, and drawstrings. Always criticized for her laid-back pattern style and plain text in instructions, however, causing the SEWTG sewist to start using their imagination and injecting their creative details into each garment - making their clothing their own.
Today, Bohemian is a word to describe how we layer, use prints and solids, and create an individual look that is truly our own. Layering is of course optional, but one can also be Bohemian in spirit as a creative, outspoken individual who stands for love, peace, and beauty.
Comments