The Printed Square by Nicky Albrechtson (Thames & Hudson, 2012) is a kaleidoscopic archive of vintage handkerchief patterns. These delicate silk squares were a popular accessory for fashion-conscious women of the 1920s - 1950s, and today provide a valuable source of inspiration for print and pattern.
In recent years, the influence of vintage patterns has been enormous, and UK high street brand Oasis worked with author Nicky Albrechtson to gain inspiration for their forthcoming spring/summer collection.
Nestled within the colour-pop pages is a commentary on the history of handkerchiefs and an outline of the design characteristics of mid-20th century textiles.
The book is released on 5 March and coincides with the exhibition with the same name, which runs at London's Fashion and Textile Museum from 30 March to 16 June 2012, and will showcase sixty of the designs from the book.
