1780 Olympe de Gouges - SunBurn With a Border

1780s Floral Chintz for Robe à l’Anglaise

This design is based on an 18th-century block-printed textile fragment and features a floral border integrated into the composition. The light white ground gives the pattern a clear and open expression, while the SunBurn colourway adds a softened historical character.

The design is printed lengthwise, meaning the fabric width becomes the usable height of the garment layout. On Cotton Cretonne, the main design height is approximately 147 cm, with the full fabric width measuring approximately 160 cm including the white margins.

Well suited for

Robe à l’Anglaise, open gowns, bodices, sleeves, and 18th-century garments where a floral border can be used as part of the garment construction. For a petticoat with the blue hem border, please choose the separate petticoat design.

Design & Historical Context

The original inspiration comes from a late 18th-century printed textile fragment with a floral border. Such designs allowed the border to become an intentional decorative element within the garment, creating structure, rhythm, and visual direction.

This version keeps the historical border logic while adapting the design for modern sewing projects.

Reference Person

Olympe de Gouges (born Marie Gouze, 1748) was a French writer, political activist, and early advocate for women’s rights. Her work reflects the intellectual and social transformation of the late 18th century.