Types of Motifs

Types of Motifs

Geometric, Natural, Abstract, Stylized Motif is the most basic unit with the help of which a design or a composition is made. Motifs are often inspired from nature and are also closely linked to natural, cultural, religious and social-economic factors prevailing in any society. A motif is the most basic unit or the smallest unit of pattern. Motifs are repeated in different ways to create patterns and these patterns are repeated to create a design. Motif has a distinct identity of its own in a pattern or design. Each motif is generally developed from a geometrical shape or a combination of different geometrical shapes.

Classification of Motifs

 The motifs or units of a textile design may be classified as

 • Geometric

• Realistic or Natural

 • Stylized

• Abstract

Geometric Motifs

 These motifs include lines in various forms, such as vertical, horizontal, diagonal and curved. They form fabric designs, such as stripes, plaids, checks and circles and their associated designs. Geometric designs lead the eye in the design or pattern that is created by them. Paper II - Traditional Textiles 81 Geometrical motifs may be created during the weaving or knitting fabric construction process. If motifs are applied as prints after the fabric is constructed, ensuring that lines are straight with the yarns of the fabric is important; otherwise the finished garment will be unsightly. A distinctive geometric design may dictate the garment styling and limit the possibilities for using the fabric. Geometric designs may require additional fabric in order to match the motifs during the layout and construction.

Realistic or Natural Motifs

Natural motifs portray as direct replica of things as they exist in nature, such as flowers on trees, animals in jungle, human figure and other natural things. They also called novelty patterns. As these motifs lack a designer’s creativity and require three-dimensional platform to copy reality, they do not find wide acceptance in apparel designing.

Stylized Motifs

These are simplified variations of natural or man-made objects that are no longer recognizable. These motifs are full of creativity, as they are the result of a designer’s interpretation of naturally existing things. Stylized motifs are obtained by rearranging the real objects either by simplifying or exaggerating them to achieve the purpose of the design.

Abstract Motifs

These are combinations of colour, size, and shape without relationship to natural or man-made objects. They are full of colour and interest to the fabric. Abstract implies an element of impression and a greater freedom than is found in most geometric designs. This type of design is used in modern art.

Types of Layouts - Side, Half drop, Border, All over

Layout in a pattern is described as the arrangement of the motif, whether it is spaced widely or closely on the ground, in neat order or apparently at random, or in rows that form stripes.

Textile design types may be categorized by layout as well as by motif or style of pattern. The term layout in textile designing refers to the arrangement of motifs in the framework of the design plane.

Unlike a painting or drawing, which is designed in relation to its boundaries or edges, the elements in a textile design are designed in relation only to each other. There are no boundaries; when the pattern is printed, it will continue over yards and yards of cloth. For a textile design to be reproduced on fabric, it must eventually be developed into one standard unit containing a specific arrangement of the desired motifs. This one unit, called a repeat, will be repeated across the width and length of the fabric in a continuous manner. Designs are sometimes done in repeat from the start but are often designed in balance and put in repeat later.

The patterns or layouts can be made in various ways to form the design, they are;

• Side layout

• Half drop layout

• Border layout

• All over layout