• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Showroom
  • Shop Online
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest

Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics

Gracious living that's light on the earth

You are here: Home / Fabric / For the Love of Mid Century Modern Fabrics

in Fabric

For the Love of Mid Century Modern Fabrics

A mid centruy modern upholstery fabric by David and Dash called Agate.
A mid century modern upholstery fabric by David and Dash called Agate.

I’m not fond of the word “retro.” Too often it stands in for vintage when retro doesn’t really indicate vintage at all. In too many instances “retro” means a modern throwback, and a mere nod to a previous design era.

Sadly, when it comes to Mid Century Modern fabrics and textiles, retro rules — but only in that retro is constantly trotted out as if it’s vintage. The truth is that retro designs are often actually just a contemporary designer’s take on what they think is Mid Century Modern. This is usually limited in design scope, and sometimes a caricature of what really went on in that dynamic design era.

With “retro” fabric one typically sees so much “atomic era” boomerangs, atoms, and other nuclear elements and one would be tempted to conclude that this was the dominant design signifier of the MCM era.

Not!

Or you get a highly repeated geometric form, usually again with a kind of atomic nod.

While there was certainly some atomic and space-age futurism from the late 1940s until the early 60s, they’re not the singular, nor the dominant themes in textile design of the era.

More to Mid Century Modern Fabrics

Also prevalent during the larger Mid Century Modern era — mid 1940s to end of the 1960s — were abstractions, color blocking and color layering, simplified geometric forms, oversized design statements, biomorphic and organic designs, lush natural elements, and pedestrian designs such as everyday objects including food, architecture, animals, products of all kinds, and more.

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has a great little photo gallery of some of the stand out Mid Century Modern textile artists that gives a breadth of understanding of the range of the era in just a few example pieces.

Significant textile artists of the period include Frank Lloyd Wright, Anni Albers, Ruth Adler Schnee, Alexander Calder (better known for his mobiles but oh my his textiles!), Alexander Girard, Marian Mahler, Lucienne Day, Barbara Brown, Esther Kahn, Isabel Scott, Josef Frank, and Stig Lindberg, among others.

And when I say “others” many of those were workaday artists at the top fabric houses or boutique outfits, rather than being primarily gallery artists. It’s easy for us to lose the names of these amazing working designers because their work was folded into the firm. Sometimes there are signed selvages, including Gabrielle Cie, Robert Lester, John Piper, Boris Kroll and too many more to begin to name.

Authentic Mid Century Modern Re-Upholstery Projects

So if you’re looking at restoring a Mid Century Modern piece of furniture, please look to fabrics from the actual era, and not just at contemporary fabric companies doing “retro” takes with more boomerangs than anyone could ever want.

For real restoration, Spoonflower and other modern fabrics will try to mimic the look but never give the fiber, weave, or hand of an authentic Mid-Century Modern piece of fabric. Quality across all those fronts have decidedly gone down except in the highest end fabric houses in the world. And that’s pricey!

Because of naturally limited quantities in vintage fabrics, it’s true that it’s often more difficult to find authentic vintage pieces for larger scale projects like couches or soaring drapes. But they are out there, so do keep looking.

In addition to the work of top fabric houses like Brunschwig & Fils, Scalamandré, and Greeff, who also got in on the MCM game to a degree in their time, I also look to smaller boutique firms of the time like David & Dash, Bob Collins and Sons, Stroheim and Romann, and S. M. Hexter, among others, who had lesser-known but equally compelling textile designers on staff. Finding fabrics from any of these firms for your MCM redo is a score!

Similarly, what were mid-range firms of the times, like Cohama, Waverly or Bloomcraft, produced some of the most fun pieces of the era. These pieces are coveted today for doing repairs to common period furnishings and for complete re-dos. Big illustrative florals, story-book florals, flower power florals, intense color abstractions, and bright, bold geometrics offer great finds for getting that mid century middle class look (which is a super fun look, btw!)

Another great way to use MCM pieces when, as too often happens, there’s only a small amount of the fabric, is to make a pillow, a Roman shade, a message board, or cover a lampshade. Getting that authentic vintage vibe from the real deal goes a long way to making a design statement in your space.

Here’s a slideshow of some pieces we currently have in the shop. Some of these are in enough yardage that a really exciting piece could be done. But act fast — they won’t last long. And keep coming back — we’re exclusively adding authentic vintage Mid Century Modern pieces to our vintage fabric shop every day.

— Lindsay Curren, Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Related

About Lindsay Curren

A Christian, mama, and writer, Lindsay Curren (aka Lady Virginia) is also a passionate lifelong collector of vintage fabrics. "There's something inexplicable about the pull textiles have on me. I simply can't resist sourcing them, using them, and now selling them. Other fabric addicts will understand!"

Previous Post: « See How Magical this Vintage Gladiola Fabric Looks on a Chair. Fortunately, there’s Still Enough Left for You.
Next Post: Queen City Women’s Day »

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Blog

Stay connected to get all the latest

We'll never share or sell your contact information.

  • About
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Footer

more about lady virginia

A Christian, mama, and writer, Lindsay Curren (aka Lady Virginia) is also a passionate lifelong collector of vintage fabrics. "There's something inexplicable about the pull textiles have on me. I simply can't resist sourcing them, using them, and now selling them. Other fabric addicts will understand!"

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest

looking for something?

Get Our Free E-Book

Get free ebook

Latest on Instagram

A vibrant and expressive light upholstery weight c A vibrant and expressive light upholstery weight cotton from Greeff Fabrics' 1970s era "Mandarin Tree Collection," this piece, "Pahari Bazaar" references East Indian marketplace culture from the middle ages or after. No. 59330-32 in the Greeff archive. $229 w/ free shipping in the US. Find it and other rare #vintagefabric in our #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio).

.
.
.
.
#greefffabrics #indianmarketplace #pahari #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #vintagestyle #etsy #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsysuccess #reupholstered #reupholstery #reupholster
Make something awesome from My Top Three Favorite Make something awesome from My Top Three Favorite Vintage Fabric Samples. Find them in my #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage. 

#fabric #vintagefabric #etsyupchallenge #fabricobsession #fabriclovers @rsamfisher
A truly lovely vintage Indienne style fabric based A truly lovely vintage Indienne style fabric based on historic examples. Produced in the 1970s, possibly during the Colonial revival of the Bicentennial era.

Designed by Faye Burgos for Marcus Brothers Textiles, Inc., this piece is an UNGLAZED cotton chintz in a weight suitable for quilting. Can be used for totes or pillows, too, but would benefit in either case from some interfacing and lining. Nice weight for a small set of café curtains, a Roman shade, or lampshade. Very grandmillennial/granny chic.

Absolutely stunning colors and bold design with rich detail. The background off-white has a scalloped design of tiny dots and flowers on which the larger floral design sits; this contrasts with the mango-colored vertical stripes and their complimentary red and blue floral designs. Classic!

$49/yard with 2 continuous yards available. Free shipping in the US. Find it in our #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics. Link in bio. 

.
.
.
.
#vintagefabric #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #vintagestyle #grandmillennial #grandmillennialdecor #grandmillennialstyle #indienne #18thcentury  #marcusbrothersfabric #etsy #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsysuccess #floralfabric #floralfabrics #fayeburgos #1970sfabric #reproductionfabrics
Made in 1988, this Greeff Fabrics piece featuring Made in 1988, this Greeff Fabrics piece featuring Joseph Pickett-like primitive Colonial American era homes, farms, and trees, is currently fashioned into a rod-pocket curtain sized for a small window. If you deconstruct it you'll gain about 1" at the top and bottom each, and 1" on one side (the other side has the selvage with printed fabric information and date).

Simple Salt Box, Georgian, and Federal-era homes dot an idyllic rural landscape of ponds, rolling hills, and soaring graceful trees, some seeming to be palmettos suggesting the landscape is South Carolina. Joseph Pickett worked primarily in Pennsylvania, but this hokmage-like piece clearly makes nods to his style.

Lovely little addition to a rustic, primitive, 18th century, or colonial-era decorated home. Could be used as sewn as a tiny curtain, or small fabric flourish on a bathroom sink bottom or furniture piece, or deconstruct and upcycle into pillow fronts, small totes, quilting pieces, appliqué, mixed media fiber arts, or other projects.

25” w x 33” long w/ hemming on all sides. Can be deconstructed for other purposes. $89 w/ free shipping in the US. Link in bio. 

.
.
.
#vintagefabric #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #vintagestyle #vintagecurtain #colonialwilliamsburg #etsy #etsyshop #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsysuccess #colonial #colonialamerica #rustic #primitivedecor #primitives #josephpickett #grandmamoses #saltboxhouse #18thcentury #quilting #quiltfabric
Last few hours of our Mother’s Day Sale. Find yo Last few hours of our Mother’s Day Sale. Find your dream #vintagefabric at 10-25% off w/ free shipping in the US over $35 through midnight tonight. Visit us at Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics on Etsy (link in bio). 

.
.
.
.
#mothersdaysale #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #vintagestyle #grandmillennial #mothersday #etsy #etsyshop #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsysuccess #reupholstered #reupholstery #reupholster #floralfabric #floralfabrics #flowersofinstagram
More charming than words can say! What a find! "En More charming than words can say! What a find! "English Meadow," 1974, from Greeff's The Woods and Meadows Collection of the 1970s.

The piece features a riot of madow flower including poppies, asters, candytuft, and day lilies amidst spiking and lilting foliage. A perfect fabric for meadow lovers and naturalists — use to decorate a cabin or nature retreat, throwback AirBnB or VW Bus. Make pillow fronts, café curtains, totes, and more! So gorpcore!

Find it in our Etsy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). On sale for 25% off through Mother’s Day. Two yards left. 

.
#vintagefabric #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #cottagecore #gorpcore #grannychic #etsy #etsyshop #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsysuccess #reupholstered #reupholstery #reupholster #floralfabric #floralfabrics #flowersofinstagram #mothersday #mothersdaysale
Fixing up a chair? Even a scrap can do wonders to Fixing up a chair? Even a scrap can do wonders to bring a chair back to life. This #scalamandre #chinoiserie made my chair soar! 

Find your dream vintage fabric in our Etsy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). Pre Mothers Day Sale 10-25% off through May 14 with free shipping in the US over $35.

.
.
.
#vintagefabric #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #vintagestyle #grandmillennial #grandmillennialdecor #grandmillennialstyle #brunschwigandfils #etsy #etsyshop #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsysuccess #reupholstered #reupholstery #reupholster #chinoiseriechicpassion #chinoiseriechic #chairwhimsy
Cock-a-doodle-do! The rooster crows awake the new Cock-a-doodle-do! The rooster crows awake the new day in this charming 1940s quilting or garment weight fabric. In a graphic black and white colorway, roosters gather near a well or coop in a fanciful environment of rock outcroppings, flowers, twisting trees, and a swirling sky.

12”, yard, or yard + 12” available and on sale through Mothers Day. Find it in our Etsy shop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

.
.
.
.
#vintagefabric #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #etsy #etsyshop #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #rooster #vintagerooster #quiltfabric #quiltingfabric #quiltingfabrics #mothersday #mothersdaysale
Our latest #vintagefabric #blogpost features YOUR Our latest #vintagefabric #blogpost features YOUR stories and projects. I love what my customers make and do — check  out some of their projects and get inspired for your own. Read it here: ladyvirginiavintage.com/blog

.
.
.
#fabricblogger #fabricblog #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #vintagestyle #grandmillennial #grandmillennialdecor #grandmillennialstyle #etsy #etsyshop #etsysellersofinstagram #reupholstery #diy #makers #vintagesewing
Just listed: Fresh and bold, this 1990s graphic bl Just listed: Fresh and bold, this 1990s graphic black and white floral print has a blockprint look (the selvage doesn't say if it was hand or screen printed, but the negative-positive space in the floral design lends itself to a block print style). Statement making!

Three large size scraps available with enough in each for pillow/tote fronts etc. or use for appliqué, slow sewing, framing, etc.

Find them@in our #etsyshop Lady Virginia Vintage Fabrics (link in bio). 

.
.
.
.
#vintagefabric #vintagefabrics #vintagefabricforsale #fabric #fabricobsession #fabricobsessed #fabricaddict #fabricaddiction #ladyvirginiavintage #fabriclover #fabriclovers #vintagestyle #grannychic #shabbychic #etsy #etsyshop #etsyseller #etsysellersofinstagram #etsysuccess #blockprints #blockprinted #blockprintfabric #floralfabric #floralfabrics #flowersofinstagram #blackandwhite #mothersday #seamstressgift
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 Lady Virginia Vintage · 11 E. Beverley Street · 3rd floor, Suite 21 · Staunton, VA 24401 · Contact Us Online