Genggang

A short history of stolen fabrics

Although cottage core has turned out to be an almost grim, watered-down version of what it really means to be a farmer and live in the countryside—all signs of severe threats to the profession’s survival, all signs of extortion, oppression, and the resulting mental health issues among farmers have, of course, been erased—the trend ensured that every Spring and Summer season is practically dominated by the classic red-and-white or blue-and-white checkered pattern, the Gingham check. The feeling of a Summer picnic or the allure of Brigitte Bardot (let’s forget the racism and sexism), but captured in Loewe blazers or Anna Sui’s hot pants-meets-underpants. For Americans, the Gingham check is one of the hallmarks of ‘Europeanness’. But what exactly is so European about this check?