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paisley prince songbook scarf

Patrick Moriarty

As the paisley pattern becomes ever more popular on the fashion scene, we look at a designer who has made a great impact specialising in paisley repeat pattern. 

Designer Patrick Moriarty has studied and lectured in this ancient art form, so it’s no wonder that he has been selected to exhibit his contemporary paisley design paying tribute to the music artist Prince, in a major international exhibition to be held in Jerusalem this year. 

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We talk to Patrick Moriarty about the benefits of digital fabric printing in a world of paisley repeat patterns and how it’s won him awards and international acclaim.

Paisley Power Interview

Q As an experienced designer and tutor in paisley pattern, what do you believe makes it such an enduring design?

A It’s a very natural organic pattern. The paisley symbol was originally inspired by the sprouting seedling of a date palm tree. Just like a seedling, new paisley patterns can develop in all sorts of directions. Also designers and shoppers are attracted to the pattern because it evokes a worldly feeling. This is due to the pattern’s historic development in different parts of the world mainly the Middle East, India and then Scotland. It’s a wonderful mix of cultures.

scarf detail
paisley prince scarf

Q From high street shops and magazines, we can see that paisley pattern is surging in popularity once again. Why do you think this is?

A The paisley pattern made a big resurgence in fashion in 2008 with designers such as Alexander McQueen and John Galliano (at Christian Dior) introducing paisley patterns into their new collections. Since then the paisley pattern hasn’t left the high street. Fashion houses and major fashion brands have kept paisley prints in their collections every season. Celebrities such as Kate Middleton have been wearing lots of paisley prints, which help to keep paisleys in the public eye.

Q Has the paisley pattern always been prominent in your own artwork?

A

I was asked by my agent in Copenhagen in 2008 to start making paisley patterns due to demand for them by fashion buyers. I just happened to have a knack for making exciting unique paisleys that were popular with the buyers. I’ve haven’t stopped since! I’ve definitely made more than 500 unique paisley patterns in the last 13 years, many of which have been bought by fashion brands all over the world.

Q How do you think digital fabric printing has affected your work?

A

It’s wonderful to be able to have designs printed on a range of different fabrics such as the Silk Bureau’s exceptional silk printing. Digital fabric printing has given designers the chance to provide their customers and clients with a multitude of colour versions of each design. We are now also able to offer designs in a variety of scales, from large-scale prints for bedding and curtains to very small-scale prints for fashion accessories, such as facemasks, headbands, and pocket squares. Another important benefit of digital printing is that fabric is not wasted; we only need to print what is required for each client. Customers can usually buy very small amounts of fabric for small sewing projects. Digital fabric printing really has been a game-changer for designers and makers, in a very positive way.

Digital fabric printing really has been a game-changer for designers and makers, in a very positive way.

Patrick Moriarty

Q

Congratulations on being selected to exhibit at The Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem with your contemporary paisley pattern. How did they spot you?

A

The exhibition has 3 curators. The curator for contemporary paisleys was researching Prince’s use of paisleys in his song lyrics, stage clothes, and graphics. She accidentally saw my Prince-themed design online because my design is a visual tribute to Prince’s songs. She liked my design very much and invited me to be one of the contemporary designers featured in the 2022 paisley exhibition.

when doves cry silk scarf
Paisley prince songbook design

Q

The Paisley Prince Songbook design has been hugely popular, especially with Prince fans. What inspired you to create the design in the first instance? Did you ever get to meet him?

A

I played in bands for 22 years as a keyboard player, mainly in the 80s and 90s when Prince was at his prime. I was very inspired by his whole persona; his unique experimental music, amazing musicianship, cool fashions, and eye-catching record sleeves. His songs appeal to textile designers as he often mentions colours, patterns, and fabric, such as “Raspberry Beret”, “Purple Rain”, “Paisley Park” and “Joy in Repetition”. In 2018 I decided to create a unique paisley design that referenced a selection of his songs so I called it “Paisley Prince Songbook”. Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to see Prince in concert but I was at the front of a queue to a club in New York in the 1980’s and Prince stepped out of a car with his bodyguards and was rushed past me and my friends into the club!

Q As well as all your commissioned designs, what plans do you have for your own work in 2022?

A

This year I’m very much looking forward to running some design workshops for a large local charity for adults with learning difficulties, to help them create a t-shirt design to celebrate their 10th anniversary. I’ll also be recording some lessons of my designing techniques for YouTube and Skillshare. There’ll definitely be some lessons on how to create paisley patterns. I will continue to make lots of new designs for my agent. I also provide Photoshop services to artists and illustrators. I adapt their artwork into repeat patterns so that they can license their work for commercial projects eg to wallpaper companies and quilting companies. It’s going to be an exciting year!

There will be an exhibition about paisley patterns at The Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem in May 2022 for 12 months and they are featuring the “Paisley Prince Songbook” design as an example of a contemporary paisley pattern.

Visitors will also be able to purchase silk scarves made by The Silk Bureau depicting the Paisley Prince Songbook pattern, in the museum shop. Don’t worry if you can’t visit the exhibition, you can still purchase through the paisleypower shop. 

Visit our scarf page to find out more about our scarf hemming service and how we can help you achieve a professional product.

Find out more

Patrick Moriarty: www.paisleypower.com

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Photography: Patrick Moriarty

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Printing Scarves

Shrinkage

The processes involved in digital textile printing causes the original fabric to shrink. If you are printing scarves, the size of the finished product will be important to you. For example, if you have square artwork, you will be expecting your finished scarf to be square!

To get the printed fabric closer to the size you need, all fabric intended for scarves must go through an extra step to reshape it. Please allow extra time on your deadlines to allow for this process. 

Let us introduce you to the …

Stenter

The stenter is an enormous piece of machinery that has many uses, including coating our fabrics and reshaping scarf orders.

After travelling through a solution to soften the fabric, it then passes over a flat bed, gripped on the selvedge edges to pull it back into shape. 

It’s a long and precise process that needs to be carefully monitored.

Shrinkage Disclaimer

If you have selected to use our hemming service, we will check the stentered fabric for you before we begin to finish your scarves. If you are not using our service, it’s up to you to check the size BEFORE you cut out the individual scarves from the fabric length. We cannot re-size after your scarves have been cut out. 

Featuring: @clarehaggas Autumn Winter Collection