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.

Ralph Lauren opens new showroom for home collections in London

Ralph Lauren Home in Chelsea Harbour London is its largest space in Europe dedicated to its home collections. 

Opened in time to join the Design Centre's recently held Focus/22 trade event, the new 250 sqm flagship store is situated in the North Dome of the centre.

Ralph Lauren Home is an arbiter of artisanal luxury, according to industry experts, and one of the world’s premier home furnishing brands that celebrate collaborations with master craftsmen and artisans, resulting in timeless and innovative interior styling.

Clare German, CEO of Design Centre at Chelsea says at the Focus 22 trade event: "We are so pleased to welcome Ralph Lauren Home to our Design Centre community. Industry professionals will be seriously impressed with the space if they're visiting it for the first time at the show." 

Introduced in 1983, Ralph Lauren’s all-encompassing home collections showcase an eclectic mix of classic American style with inspired Oriental and contemporary touches, encompassing bold furniture and lighting; distinctive floorcovering; fabric and wallcovering; fine china, crystal, and silverware; decorative accessories; and luxurious bed and bath linens.  

All photos: Ralph Lauren Home, Design Centre, North Dome, Chelsea Harbour © Lucia Carpio 2022 

Christmas lights bring on the spirit of the festive season

Christmas lights in London's Oxford Street (above) and
Regent Street (below).
Photos by Lucia Carpio for MyFashionConnectGlobal.

Wonderful to see the Spirit of Christmas returns to London, marking the start of this year's festive season. 

Christmas lights high above Oxford Street and Regent Street bring a hopeful atmosphere to the capital during these challenging times.

"The Spirit of Christmas" scheme returns to London's west end this year, marking the start of the festive season.  The lights are lit from 13 November 2021 until 2 January 2022, with the displays switched on from 2pm to
 midnight everyday for a more sustainable display.

While it is high time we start preparing our Christmas shopping list for friends and loved ones, it is time also to start planning to create that festive spirit home.

At TEXTURED LIVES, founder and interior textile designer Jo McEwan is creating a warm, casual look for Christmas. Keeping with a philosophy that our homes are our sanctuary, she curates an alternative brand that celebrates products that flow effortlessly, creating a calm and comfortable environment in the process.

TEXTURED LIVES  creates a cozy Christmas lifestyle with double faced Charcol throws, Tabia rustic tea lights, Lua green vase, Tabia rustic lights, Abeeko wine glass (set of 4), Fern candle, Kamille embroidery cushion and Mala embroidery cushion.

“I wanted to create a lifestyle experience that brought together beautiful homeware products and my own range of personally designed soft furnishings. My dream is to empower my customers to curate their own beautiful spaces with the reassurance that whatever they choose has been personally and consciously selected or designed. Respect for individuality is of paramount importance to Textured Lives which is why nothing is mass produced and we celebrate organic, not prescriptive." said designer Jo McEwan.

Simple additions like cashmere and merino wool throws, antique brass lanterns, rustic tea lights, real moss candles and velvet cushions can make that subtle difference, said Jo. Even adding a tea light or two and a Christmas vase into the bedroom can give us a snuggly new feel for the Christmas period.

Another way to add a Christmas spirit to our interiors is the creative use of candles.

Now artisan candlemakers Cockles and Heart is releasing  its limited edition Christmas candles this week; many of the vintage candles in the Devon company’s gold, frankincense and myrrh range are one-off pieces or available in runs of just 6 candles.

Deep Red Bowl Candle (11.5cm diametre) by Cockles and Heart.
Candle consists of 300ml coconut, rapeseed and extra virgin beeswax;
frankincense, ylang ylang, oregano and lime essential oils;
hand decorated with lavender;
and two pure cotton/linen blend wicks.  Burn time 45 hours

“For Christmas we’ve blended premium oils such as frankincense and myrrh with golden orange, cassia and cardamom to make delicious aromatic candles” says Shona Duncan of Cockles and Heart.  

“To give things a real Christmassy vibe, we’ve specially sourced some fabulous red and gold vintage containers. Many are genuine one-off pieces and when they are sold, they won’t be repeated.”

Cockles and Heart hand pours and individually decorates its candles using a bespoke wax blend infused with pure essential oils.  Its Christmas range features frankincense and  myrrh essential oils and gold and red vintage and upcycled containers.

Spode Songbird Antique candle by Cockles and Heart.
This Spode Cup is over 200 years old and was highly decorated in gold. 
The candle consists of 150ml coconut, rapeseed and extra virgin beeswax; cedarwood, ylang ylang, and bergamot essential oils; hand decorated with rose petals and three pure cotton/linen blend wicks. Burn time 30+ hours

Cockles and Heart sells its candles online  and at Rebel Rebel’s Mare Street Market Shop, London E8, at the Bowie Gallery in Totnes South Devon, UK.