V&A
Black and Red Printed Silk Chiffon Scarf
1970s · 1960s · British
Designer
Zandra Rhodes
Production
ready-to-wear
Material
silk chiffon
Culture
British
Movement
Psychedelic Movement · Hippie / Counterculture
Influences
psychedelic art movement · Art Nouveau organic forms
A rectangular silk chiffon scarf featuring Zandra Rhodes' distinctive 1969 print design. The cream-colored base displays bold geometric and organic motifs in black and red. Central vertical stripes are flanked by wavy parallel lines, while the corners showcase elaborate floral or feather-like patterns with intricate detailing. The design combines structured linear elements with flowing organic forms typical of late 1960s psychedelic aesthetics. The lightweight chiffon fabric would drape softly when worn, and the print's asymmetrical composition reflects the era's experimental approach to textile design and the growing influence of non-Western artistic traditions on British fashion.
scarf
Connected To
Influences·Art Nouveau organic formsMotif·abstract-organic
SHARED30 years · cross-category
The ancient textile's bold geometric borders and stylized bird motifs find their echo in the evening coat's swirling, organic abstractions—both pieces treating fabric as a canvas for narrative imagery that flows across the surface. Where the historical fragment uses stark contrast and symbolic repetition to create visual rhythm, the 1990s coat dissolves those hard edges into watercolor-like washes of color that still carry the same decorative DNA.
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