Irregular Collection · Oliver James Lilos

A History of Stripes

The Outcast Stripe (12th–15th c.)

For 300 years, stripes began as a mark of exclusion. Medieval Europe gave them to prostitutes, lepers, heretics, and executioners anyone outside the social order.

The Outcast Stripe (12th–15th c.)

For 300 years, stripes began as a mark of exclusion. Medieval Europe gave them to prostitutes, lepers, heretics, and executioners anyone outside the social order.

The Liberty Stripe (18th c.)

The American and French revolutions flipped the meaning. The pattern became a symbol of order, liberty, and collective identity — and moved into aristocratic interiors as the vertical line of classical refinement.

The Liberty Stripe (18th c.)

The American and French revolutions flipped the meaning. The pattern became a symbol of order, liberty, and collective identity — and moved into aristocratic interiors as the vertical line of classical refinement.

The Maritime Stripe (1858)

The French Navy formalized the marinière in 1858: 21 horizontal stripes, visible against the sea. Coco Chanel pulled it ashore in 1917.

Sea, shore, and Brenton stripe became one lineage. Our Shore Linen and Shore Regatta fabric drew inspiration from this era.

The Maritime Stripe (1858)

The French Navy formalized the marinière in 1858: 21 horizontal stripes, visible against the sea. Coco Chanel pulled it ashore in 1917.

Sea, shore, and Brenton stripe became one lineage. Our Shore Linen and Shore Regatta fabric drew inspiration from this era.

The Cabana Stripe (1920s–60s)

On the Riviera, stripes became the uniform of leisure — awnings, deck chairs, cabanas, swim. Wide, even, high-contrast. The stripe as shorthand for the pleasure of being by the pool.

This is the tradition Oliver James Lilos was built inside. Our Cabana Botella and Classic drew inspiration from this era.

The Cabana Stripe (1920s–60s)

On the Riviera, stripes became the uniform of leisure — awnings, deck chairs, cabanas, swim. Wide, even, high-contrast. The stripe as shorthand for the pleasure of being by the pool.

This is the tradition Oliver James Lilos was built inside. Our Cabana Botella and Classic drew inspiration from this era.

Oliver James Lilos x Orlebar Brown

Created with Orlebar Brown and custom-woven by Sunbrella®, this pattern reflects a heritage of hand-painted, block-printed, and resist-dyed textiles where edges blurred and widths varied, embracing the human touch.

Oliver James Lilos x Orlebar Brown

Created with Orlebar Brown and custom-woven by Sunbrella®, this pattern reflects a heritage of hand-painted, block-printed, and resist-dyed textiles where edges blurred and widths varied, embracing the human touch.

Irregular Stripe

For a century, the cabana stripe has stood for order by the pool — evenly spaced, evenly sized, evenly nothing-out-of-place. Irregular pulls that confidence loose. The thickness swells and tapers. The edge is painted, not printed.

Irregular Stripe

For a century, the cabana stripe has stood for order by the pool — evenly spaced, evenly sized, evenly nothing-out-of-place. Irregular pulls that confidence loose. The thickness swells and tapers. The edge is painted, not printed.