Gingham is a lightweight, plain-woven cotton fabric characterized by its distinctive checked pattern. The fabric's name originates from the Malay word genggang, which refers to striped or checked patterns. Gingham's checked design is created by dyeing the cotton yarn before weaving, resulting in a pattern that is visually similar on both sides of the fabric. The checks are typically formed by alternating colored and white squares, with common color choices being red, blue, green, and black. Gingham fabric has a long history, with its origins traced back to 17th-century Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. It gained popularity in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, where it was often used for making clothing items such as dresses, aprons, and shirts. In the 1950s and 1960s, gingham experienced a resurgence in popularity, becoming a staple in fashion and home décor. Its association with a classic, wholesome aesthetic has made it an enduring choice for designers and consumers alike. Beyond clothing, gingham has found applications in various design fields, such as interior design for curtains, tablecloths, and upholstery, as well as in graphic design for creating patterns and textures. The versatility and timeless appeal of gingham have solidified its place as an iconic textile in the world of design.
checked pattern, cotton fabric, textile design, fashion staple
CITATION : "John Armstrong. 'Gingham.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=434194 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
Gingham is a fabric pattern that has been around for centuries and has evolved into a ubiquitous term used to denote any type of checked fabric. It is characterized by a checkered or checked design with evenly spaced and regular, repeating checks of one color on a white background. Gingham was originally made with two colors in the checks, but today it can be found in a variety of colors and sizes. One interesting aspect of gingham is its use in fashion. It has been used in clothing for both men and women, and has been popular in a variety of styles, from preppy to punk. Gingham has also been used in home decor, such as curtains, tablecloths, and bedding. Another aspect of gingham is its cultural significance. It has been used in many different cultures around the world, and has been associated with different meanings. In some cultures, gingham is associated with innocence and purity, while in others it is associated with rebellion and counterculture. Overall, gingham is a versatile fabric pattern that has been around for centuries and has evolved into a ubiquitous term used to denote any type of checked fabric. It has been used in fashion and home decor, and has cultural significance in many different cultures around the world.
fabric, pattern, fashion, home decor, cultural significance
Gingham is a noun derived from Dutch which refers to a fabric pattern characterized by a checkered or checked design. Synonyms for gingham include checkered fabric, calico, check cloth, and checked fabric. Antonyms of gingham include plain fabric, solids, or stripes. Cognates of gingham include the Dutch word gingembre or the Spanish word guingambo. Variations of gingham include glen check, madras, plaid, and tartan.
Morphological derivation, phonetic variation, semantic change, lexicon, etymon, lexicography
Gingham, which has its roots in Dutch dialect ‘genge’, is a fabric composed of dyed cotton warp and white weft yarns, originally using two colours in the checks. It is the oldest checked fabric and was popularized in the late 18th century in England. This particular fabric has a long history and its morphological evolution has been such that it has become a ubiquitous word used to denote a type of checked fabric in the context of fashion. The fabric also has a long linguistic evolution with the word ‘gingham’ most likely having been adopted as a generic term in England by the late eighteenth century and becoming widely-used by the mid-nineteenth. Its use has since become geographically widespread, being adopted in many parts of the world. In its historical context, the word gingham has been used to refer to a specific type of fabric with a checkered pattern, although its use has become more generic and can be used to refer to any type of checked fabric. Morphologically, gingham has come to refer to almost any checked fabric that can be used for apparel and décor. Finally, gingham has a pragmatic context, being a fabric used for clothing, curtains, tablecloths, and other decorative items.
Etymology, Morphology, Gingham, Checked Fabric, Pragmatics.
The term 'Gingham' is a fabric pattern, consisting of a checkered, crisscross style of white and a single color. Originating from the 17th century, the word 'Gingham' derives from the Malaysian language and is used as a noun to describe a fabric pattern and as a verb to describe a certain type of weaving. Equivalent words for 'Gingham' in other languages include 'gamaşı', 'sentetik sökme', 'karşı kutu', 'karşı maskara', 'pique', 'gumuş', 'daraşık', 'karşılıklı desen', 'tel dizmek', 'şerit dizmek', 'Damask' and 'kurdeleli yün kumaş' amongst others.
Gamaşı, sentetik sökme, karşı kutu, karşı maskara, pique, gumuş, daraşık, karşılıklı desen, tel dizmek, şerit dizmek, Damask, kurdeleli yün kumaş neticesinde Gingham olarak bilinir
Gingham is a type of pattern often used in anime, comics and manga to provide an aesthetically pleasing image composition. It consists of a white background with evenly spaced and regular, repeating checks of one color. The checks may form a variety of shapes, usually squares, diamonds, and hexagons. Gingham is often used in fantasy or magical stories to provide a sense of familiarity and peacefulness. In addition, it is also used to create a whimsical and nostalgic atmosphere for a manga.
Gingham pattern, manga art, anime art, graphic art, comic art.
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