26
Toile Turkish Coat
Rachel's Story
I love ethnic clothing designs and like to explore different combinations of ideas. I thought exploring using a French toile fabric and a folk garment pattern would be interesting. I chose to use a Folkwear pattern to bring this idea to life. The Folkwear Pattern Company is known for creating garment patterns based on authentic vintage and traditional folk garments. The Turkish Coat seemed like a perfect fit for my creation. I further enriched the design by adding other authentic French fabrics and stripe cotton for accent, creating a fusion of cultural elements.
Garment Description
The Toile Turkish Coat captures a lively interplay of French toile and bold accents, creating a garment that feels both timeless and eclectic. The body of the coat features a classic pastoral toile in a muted green palette, with scenic vignettes of trees, people, and architecture that evoke a sense of nostalgia. The sleeves extend the story, bordered with striped accents in contrasting tones, while the cuffs are finished with a teal trim for a crisp, tailored look. Pockets of mustard-yellow fabric, adorned with dotted blue motifs, add a playful burst of color and a folk-inspired charm. Along the hemline, a border of lush florals in reds and purples adds drama and grounds the design, offering a striking contrast to the lighter body fabric.
The interior is a surprise, fully lined with a rich, burgundy floral print that spills across the expanse like a secret garden. Yellow borders, marked with the same dotted blue fabric as the exterior, frame the lining, creating a deliberate harmony between inner and outer elements. The structural elements of the Folkwear Turkish Coat pattern allow these fabrics to shine, with long panels that flare out into a dramatic sweep. The meticulous piecing highlights the coat’s heritage-inspired aesthetic, while modern fabric choices and a playful approach to color imbue it with energy and personality.