Home and Fashion Trend: Quilting Returns as a Cosy Staple in Fashion and Cottagecore Living

Quilting, an ancient craft with roots stretching back to Egypt, China, and medieval Europe, has long served both practical and decorative purposes. In colonial America, quilting evolved into a communal and symbolic activity, with patchwork quilts marking life milestones and showcasing resourcefulness. Over centuries, it transitioned from necessity to heritage art, reflecting cultural identity, personal stories, and regional traditions.

Above, Emily Pink & Green Patchwork Quilted Bag from Oliver Bonas, made from patchwork pink and green soft corduroy sewn with floral and striped fabric panels in a geometric pattern. 

Today, quilting is experiencing a revival, emerging as a key trend in both fashion and home design. It fits seamlessly into the country cottage and cottagecore aesthetics, which idealise rural simplicity, handcrafted charm, and a deeper connection to nature.   

Pink Rosalind Reversible Quilted Jacket from Laura Ashley
One side features ditsy print while the reversed side features a large scale Rosalind print.
The jacket is finished with tie front detailing and side pockets.

Part of quilting’s modern appeal lies in its emotional resonance—it evokes comfort, tradition, and care in an increasingly digital, fast-paced world. Consumers are seeking objects with stories, and quilting offers a tangible connection to history, family, and craft. This revival is also fueled by the broader maker movement and a renewed interest in slow fashion and sustainable design practices.

With quilting, one celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the comfort of lived-in, layered spaces—values that embodies through patchwork textures, varied colour palettes, and nostalgic motifs. 

Glassette Stella Quilted Bedspread in 100% cotton from The Secret Linen Store

In cottage-inspired interiors, quilts are often draped over beds, armchairs, or used as decorative wall hangings, adding warmth, character, and a sense of history. Similarly, in fashion, quilted garments and accessories evoke pastoral life and domestic coziness, reinforcing the slower, more intentional lifestyle at the heart of the cottagecore movement.  Glassette Stella Quilted Bedspread in 100% cotton from The Secret Linen Store

Radhika Quilted Makeup Bag from Rex London

The resurgence of quilting aligns with growing appreciation for handmade, sustainable, and nostalgic pieces. In fashion, quilted coats, bags, and patchwork garments are being embraced by designers and consumers alike, blending comfort with craftsmanship. Quilting offers visual texture and depth, making it ideal for statement pieces in modern wardrobes.

Star Blue Cotton Patchwork Cushion Cover (60x60cm) from Oliver Bonas
made from a series of geometric cotton panels in blue, green and white with top stitching
to create a quilted feel and texture.

In interiors, quilting complements the popular country cottage and cottagecore aesthetics, which romanticise rural life and slower living. Vintage and contemporary quilts are being styled as bedspreads, sofa throws, and wall hangings, bringing warmth, color, and softness to living spaces. Quilted patterns and patchwork motifs are also influencing upholstery, wallpaper, and table linens, adding a personal, handmade touch to decor.

Reversible Blue & Green Striped Quilted Bedcover in 100% cotton from Oliver Bonas,
featuring a wide blue and white stripe on one side with green trimming, and a slim green stripe pattern on the reverse.

Ultimately, quilting's comeback reflects a cultural shift toward authenticity, individuality, and meaningful living. Whether seen in a hand-stitched jacket, a cozy home throw, or a handbag by a design-led brand, quilting bridges past and present with its timeless appeal. Its ability to blend utility with beauty ensures that this age-old craft remains not only relevant but celebrated in today's creative landscape.

Nature- the mother of all inspiration.

Close-up of garden-themed embroidery on a dress from Bambah.

The Nature theme as inspiration for fashion, home and lifestyle products has been popular for some time now, so it comes as welcome news when leading colour authority Pantone announced in early December that Greenery is the Colour of the Year 2017.  It is a natural (mind the pun) development since the botanical theme came onto the scene last year and will continue to play a key role in 2017.

Vibrant colours for floral jacquards and brocades for AW17 as presented at Premiere Vision, Paris, September 2016.

Photo © Lucia Carpio

Enchanting garden-themed fabrics for SS17 as seen at Premiere Vision, Paris, February 2016.
Photo © Lucia Carpio

All things floral and botanical were shown in a myriad of fabric bases at the prestigious Premiere Vision textile trade fairs in Paris in February and September this year.

Eden silk scarf by designers Shan Jiang and Ying Wu at Pig Chicken Cow of London. 

Dream girl silk scarf from Cleo Ferin Mercury for SS16.

And throughout the year, botanical prints have been a driving force in interior design.

Terrarium-printed floor cushion from Hothouse.

And then, the notion of incorporating the outdoors and plant life into interior design has become a key driver.

Tom Dixon's Tank vases also available at Heal's.
Photo © Lucia Carpio

Lantern Terrariums from Oliver Bonas.

Terrariums and inspirations bring a calming effect to indoor spaces

Not all of us have a garden or outdoor space in our homes, especially if we live in the city.  Thus we see the popularity of terrariums rising, enhancing the trend of bringing the outdoors into our homes.

A selection of lantern shaped terrariums and mini glass houses aailable at UK retailer Oliver Bonas.  

Sophie Thompson, who founded Terrarium Designs, has launched a range of home products called Hothouse that refreshingly bring the outdoors in through her designs.  Inspired by the orchid exhibition at London's Kew gardens in which the tropical glasshouses are filled with a vast variety of beautiful flowers, the fabric design has a botanical narrative that captures the abundance of beautiful colourful blooms alongside the lush tropical foliage.

Hothouse seat cushion from Terrarium Designs.

Hothouse lampshade from Terrarium Designs.

Coming from a family background in antique dealing, Sophie’s style is influenced by the elegance of the past as well as her love for contemporary design. These contrasting elements combined to form Terrarium.  She creates colourful handmade homewares inspired by botanical beauty, bringing nature from the exterior into the home. The web-based store features a selection of home products, from cushions of different sizes to lampshades, glass coasters and re-upholstered antique furniture.

Hothouse floor cushion from Terrarium Designs

Inspiration for Terrarium's design collection undoubtedly is drawn from a deep fascination with our interaction with nature and by capturing nature through insightfully delicate illustrations and contemporary digital processes create dramatic, detailed designs that bring a sense of serenity in today's uncertain world.

And in search of that peace, I am pleased to have enrolled myself in an introduction class to learn how terrariums can be achieved.