Back in early 2021, Remodelista, self-described as the “definitive sourcebook for the considered home,” issued a trend alert about the comeback of antique American quilts. Not only were they seen as art, upholstery, and bedding in home decorating, patchwork quilts had made their way into fashion, with the New York Times reporting “Men’s Wear Is on a Quilt Trip.” Quilts were being collected, repurposed, sometimes dyed for a contemporary update, and reemerging everywhere.
Noteworthy was former surfer Tristan Detwiler’s sustainable menswear brand, Stan, which upcycles antique materials such as vintage quilts to create one-of-a-kind, handcrafted clothing, cut from antique fabrics, bed linens, and grain sacks. This clothing line was so popular that now it has moved into the mainstream with Stan producing a commercial collection for Spring 2025.
Gee's Bend Quilt Square
ELLE DECOR has identified 19th-Century American Quilts as one of the “Top 5 Antique and Vintage Trends That Will Be All the Rage in 2025, According to Experts.” Experts cite the collectors’ demand for authentic Gee’s Bend quilts. These narrative patchwork quilts made by African American women in Gee’s Bend, Alabama” are bold and colorful, and to obtain one may cost you thousands of dollars.
The Gee’s Bend Quilting Collective is still alive today, holding retreats, and taking their works on the road with traveling exhibitions. “Gee's Bend quilts carry forward an old and proud tradition of textiles made for home and family. Gee's Bend quilts transform recycled work clothes and dresses, feed sacks and fabric remnants to sophisticated design vessels of cultural survival and continuing portraits of the women 's identities,” says the statement on their website. “These women bring a unique level of local flavor to the one visual tradition widely practiced by Americans of every social class, ethnicity, religion, and region. They make an American pastime the literal fabric of their lives -- an art that binds the individual’s imagination to family, friends, neighborhood, and the greater community.” They are unquestionably works of art.
Although quilts are designed for a specific purpose, they are being seen more as abstract art than simply bedding or a decorative blanket. Amish and Mennonite quilts are sought after by collectors due to their high quality and the ability of their geometric patterns to blend in with contemporary surroundings. Also in demand are quilts with distinct details or exceptional features like early 19th-Century American quilts made with chintz imported from England and Hawaiian quilts with detailed appliquéd surfaces. But quilts aren’t only popular as a vintage collector’s trend, quilt making is also a thriving practice and profitable industry. Evidence of this can be seen right here in the Golden Isles with the 2022 opening of Sea Stitches Quilting Studio and the popularity of its Sit & Sew sessions and long-arm quilting classes.
In quilting world, 2025 sees a continued focus on sustainability and the use of eco-friendly materials and methods of production. Innovative textiles made from sources like bamboo and hemp and manufactured from recycled materials will be popular, as well as organic cotton prints with low-impact dyes. Experts predict more celebration of cultural heritage with traditional motifs from various cultures being reinterpreted in contemporary color palettes, fusion designs, and global design traditions getting a modern twist. An old staple in quilting, floral design, will become more conscious about conservation with use of detailed botanical illustrations of native or rare flowers, and natural dyes or color palettes inspired by these hues. Personalized prints and the rise of custom fabrics emerge as a new way to incorporate personal photos, artwork, and take things a step further than the sentimental practice of using old t-shirts and family clothing to preserve special memories. This marriage of cutting-edge technology and traditional custom will be seen across the board. Abstract geometric designs and bold color blocks have tremendous appeal and will feature bright new colors.
As quilting trends evolve, new techniques are being developed and traditional notions of what a quilt is meant to be are being reinterpreted, with the craft attracting a diverse new generation. The future of quilting is as bright, colorful, and full of inspiration and potential as the quilts themselves.
