It is impossible to scroll through social media or even walk outside without seeing someone in polka dots, but where did this pattern start? 

In the 1760s, the Industrial Revolution was in full motion. Amongst the many new technologies, a sewing machine was one of them. With the help of this new creation, along with many others, fabrics having patterns became much simpler to make and more common. However, dotted clothing had a stigma around it. It used to be that the pattern was a sign of disease or uncleanliness. 

This connotation eventually faded and by the mid 1800s, the dotted pattern had a new name. The name polka dot originates from the Czech dance known as the polka. Many other items gained the word “polka” in front of them due to the popular dance, but only polka dots really stuck. 

Throughout the 1900s the pattern became popularized through Disney’s Minnie Mouse, Miss America winners like Norma Smallwood, and celebrities such as Julia Roberts and Marilyn Monroe. 

It is impossible to pinpoint the exact reason polka dots have resurfaced in recent fashion trends but it is in part thanks to Miu Miu’s Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear show. The runway was host to an array of dotted clothes and that caught the eyes of the audience. In the more recent Copenhagen Spring 2026 show, brands such as Rolf Ekroth and Rave Review have also showcased many polka dots. On top of the runway, the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot focused work has gained attention and fit right into the pattern’s upwards trend.

Till next Sunday,

Daisy