Gingham

Gingham is a plain-woven fabric featuring a simple check pattern created by intersecting equal-width stripes of color and white in both the warp and weft. The word likely derives from the Malay word genggang meaning striped, reflecting the pattern's Southeast Asian origins before it was widely adopted in European textile production during the seventeenth century. In interior design, gingham carries an inherent cheerfulness and unpretentious charm that makes it a perennial favorite for casual, welcoming spaces. The pattern's simplicity and regularity create a clean, orderly appearance that works particularly well in kitchens, dining areas, and bedrooms. Modern designers have embraced gingham in unexpected scales and colorways, elevating it from its cottage roots to sophisticated contemporary applications when rendered in black, navy, or sophisticated neutrals.