Argyle has come a long way since first seen on someone's socks. This thought crossed my mind as I stared at my lovely green & pink steel water bottle. What began as a sock trend has now encompassed nearly every clothing and accessory item as well as stationary, lunchboxes, phone cases, water bottles, and much, much more!
So where did it come from? Well, funny you should ask. :)
Fashion legend has it that the argyle print originated in Argyll, Scotland, worn by the high clansmen of the family Campbell, and dates back as early as the 17th century. It appeared as a type of tartan, which refers to the pattern of crisscrossed lines displayed on cloth, i.e. what we Americans refer to as plaid.
They used it on their kilts, plaids, and socks. (For a Scotsman, a plaid is a cloth or blanket slung over the shoulder).
Supposedly, the first argyle sweater was created sometime in the 1920's by Pringle of Scotland, a luxury knitwear manufacturer and importer. However, the print did not become considered high fashion until after World War I. One source claims that it was the president of Brooks Brothers, having returned from a golf tournament held in Scotland, who presented the U.S. with the argyle pattern. Recognizing it's great potential while overseas, he took to producing the first pair of North American argyle socks in 1949.
And you know the rest of the story. Now, argyle is everywhere! The "look" has become iconic and associated with intellectualism ("preppies"), suiting teenagers and adults alike. Outside of my water bottle, I do not own any other argyle printed items. "Preppy" was never my thing. Nevertheless, I can appreciate the history, uniqueness, and originality behind a trend. After all, one would be hard pressed to find someone who has no clue what argyle is. For that reason, it pervades as a timeless classic in the fashion world. Kudos to the Scottish!
Sources (the jury is still out as to whether or not they can viewed as reliable):
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