1782 Sophia Dussek

1780s Striped Cotton for Polonaise & Waistcoat

Product Description

This late 18th-century striped cotton is well suited for robe à la polonaise styling, waistcoats, and refined historical garments. The soft vertical stripe creates a light and balanced rhythm, while the small contrasting motifs add subtle movement and visual interest.

The design is inspired by the Gazette des atours de la Reine Marie-Antoinette pour l’année 1782, reflecting the textile aesthetics of the early 1780s. Its narrow repeat and controlled proportions make it particularly suitable for garments where direction, scale, and construction are essential.

Well suited for

Robe à la polonaise overskirts, waistcoats, 1780s gowns, bodices, sleeves, historical costume work, and decorative textile projects where a structured striped cotton with late 18th-century character is desired.

Design & Historical Context

This textile draws inspiration from Marie-Antoinette’s documented wardrobe culture, where striped fabrics and delicately spaced motifs played an important role in fashionable dress. Cotton qualities allowed for more practical garments while still maintaining the elegance and visual language of the period.

Reference Person

Sophia Giustina Dussek (born 1 May 1775 in Edinburgh) was a Scottish singer, pianist, harpist, and composer of Italian descent. She played an important role in the musical life of late 18th-century London and contributed to the introduction of Mozart’s music to English audiences.

Her name gives this textile a cultural anchor within the same period of elegance, performance, and artistic exchange that shaped late 18th-century European fashion.