Animal Print Designs That Are Used In Fashion Fabrics

Printed fabrics are very popular in fashion and home sewing and it’s no wonder that there are so many print designers and options for printed fabrics available to us. We can even create our own prints now and get them printed digitally if we want something more unique to us.

It is important for me to highlight that there is a lot of ongoing discussion about the ethics of using animal prints: is it a way of glorifying animal cruelty or is it just a way to add a timeless – and some would say ‘tacky – look to a garment? I’ll be digging into the reasons why animal prints are popular and unpopular in this article as well.

The Appearance of Animal Prints In Fashion

Animal prints, specifically animal skin that was turned into clothing, were once worn to show social status and wealth. It was also believed in specific cultures that wearing the skin of hunted animals was a show of power and skill – think of it as a sort of trophy worn by the best hunters if you like.

Over the next couple of decades and centuries, animal fur coats became more of a fashion statement that was seen to exude luxury and prestige, and still is in some cultures today.

1930s

Animal fur was quite a fashion status symbol back in the 30s. Royalties had animal rugs in their gigantic homes, and a fur coat was an item of highly sought-after clothing within the upper classes.

However, since genuine animal fur clothing is an unsustainable industry, not to mention quite unethical, animal print fabric became the best alternative. Animal print didn’t start to experience a boom period in fashion until the 1930s.

The rise in demand was likely down to the popularity of the silver screen adaptation of Tarzan, starring Johnny Weissmuller as the vine-swinging ape-man and Maureen O’Sullivan as Jane.

Both characters wore exotic and sexy animal print clothes, which quickly increased the popularity of animal print fabrics in the market.

1940s

A decade later, and the market for animal print garments saw a further boost. This further increase in demand is attributed to well-known celebrities showcasing their animal-print outfits.

For example, one of the most popular pin-up models of the time, Bettie Page, was featured in a jungle themed photoshoot in which she wore a sexy leopard print mini dress that showed off her figure.

During this decade, the women’s movement was also gaining traction, with women of the 40s wearing animal-patterned clothing to show power and independence themselves.

1950s

The 1950s can also be considered the era when animal print clothing finally reached new heights. This decade saw famous designer, Christian Dior, open up a new line of clothing that incorporated animal prints, specifically the leopard print.

This fondness for animal printed clothes by Dior can be linked to his consultant, Mitzah Bricard, Dior’s muse. Bricard’s influence helped pave the way for animal prints that were used in fashion to hit a new milestone.

1960s

Around the 1960s, animal prints once again evolved from a chic and classy style to a more exotic and wild charm. This switch in reputation is heavily linked to the hippie movement that popped up during this decade.

It was also during this period when experimenting with different animal print colors became the norm. Results varied, but some of the best versions captured the hippie movement’s psychedelic aesthetic.

1970s

The 70s was a pretty wild decade for animal print design. You would see someone wearing animal print clothes almost everywhere during that decade. Even the chaotic punk movement incorporated the untamed appeal of animal print into their style.

However, the most significant impact was when pop music icons wore animal-printed jumpsuits, coats, bell bottoms, and even shoes. This was the era when animal print became synonymous with funk.

1980s

The peak of animal print clothing would be the 1980s, so we can add this design element to its hall of fame. The 80s also introduced the public to more options other than the typical leopard and cheetah print. It was in this decade when snakeskin, zebra, and tiger print entered the fray.

Present Day Animal Print Design

Currently, the use of animal print in today’s fashion scene can be summed up as an amalgamation of all the previous decades rolled into one. Such design is now present in luxury designer brands and more budget-friendly clothing wear.

You could say that the modern-day use of animal print in fabrics has finally found a middle ground that will appeal to all consumers. But this is also where the debate about the ethics of animal prints comes into play. More on that further down.

Animal Print Vs Animal Skin / Hide

In the early days, there was no way to achieve the exotic look and ‘luxury’ vibe that animal print brought to the table other than directly getting it from the source. Thankfully, animal print can be achieved artificially, which is undoubtedly one of its biggest advantages over genuine animal fur or skin.

So, what other differences do these two aesthetically similar yet vastly different properties of materials have?

Environment Friendliness

Here’s the thing, genuine animal skin products are environmentally friendly to some extent because they are biodegradable. However, plant-based fibers such as cotton also hold this distinction.

But we also need to consider the processing of the ‘genuine’ animal skins. In order to be worn, they need to be treated and this requires chemicals that are not great for the environment.

Longevity

This category is where genuine animal skin products get a significant edge against their synthetic counterparts. For example, a garment made from animal skin leather tends to last for a considerably longer time than synthetic leather.

Luxury Appeal

There is a reason why genuine fur coats symbolize one’s social status, as these fabrics can be expensive to produce and manufacture. Additionally, there is something different and attention-catching about wearing genuine animal skin / hide. And a final reason why authentic animal skin clothing is a symbol of wealth; it is simply an item that is closely connected with excess.

Cost

Regarding cost, animal-printed fabrics are more budget-friendly than animal skin products. This is in part because the process of extracting animal skin is already a costly procedure, not to mention the fact that it is taken from a source that varies in limits. Limited supplies of course increase the costs.

In addition, the processing of animal skin to be turned into articles of clothing also piles on the expense.

Animal print has overtaken animal skin in the market due to its several advantages over the latter. First and foremost, it is considered to be the more ethical option to take as it doesn’t necessitate the death of animals solely for the purpose of harvesting their skin, and usually nothing else.

Also, besides being a cruelty-free alternative, technology has allowed synthetic animal print fabrics to catch up in terms of aesthetics and properties. The advancements have reached a point when faux and genuine animal-printed materials are nigh on indistinguishable from the real thing.

Types Of Animal Prints Designs

Animal print in fashion began with just two primary patterns and has increased to over a dozen today. Below is a list of all the types of animal prints used in fashion that you may encounter when browsing at your local fabric store.

Cheetah Print

Cheetah print has been a popular print now for decades but it first received a boost in demand thanks to the 1930s Tarzan film. It also became more commonly used during the 60s and 70s as part of the hippie and mod fashion styles.

By the 1980s cheetah print became popular after Betsey Johnson and Dolce & Gabbana, with the latter design duo still using it to this day in their collections. 

In its classic form, the pattern is quite distinct and features black spots over a tan background.

Cow Print

While leopard and cheetah prints were all the rage back in the 1930s, another type of animal pattern was introduced during that period too.

The cow print was presented by fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli back in the 1930s and came in standard black and white, but it also used other neutral colors such as brown and gray.

Crocodile Print

Next up is the reptilian skin pattern, such as the crocodile print. These types of animal prints come in brown, green, tan, gray, and black squiggly marks. This pattern is often applied on leather items such as bags, holsters, and boots.

It became popular in a widespread way in the 1980s, with brands like Gucci, Hermes and Louis Vuitton incorporating it into their designs from hand bags through to clothing and by the early 2000s brands like Roberto Cavalli and Versace incorporating it in a much more colorful and excessive way – think lots of bright attention grabbing colors!

Dalmatian Print

Fortunately, only the evil mind of fictional villainess Cruella de Vil would come up with the idea of actually using real Dalmatians to create clothes with Dalmatian print. As a result, actual Dalmatian print fabrics are artificially made, and no dogs have been harmed to make garments that feature this iconic black and white spots pattern.

Giraffe Print

Featuring brown patches on top of a lighter shade background, the giraffe print is also a favorite by high-end fashion designers. You can find fabrics with giraffe prints in various colors, with the spots typically using a more neutral shade.

Hyena Print

Hyena print has never really taken off to become truly mainstream, but it has been used by some designers over the years. It is quite different from the usual animal print fabric we’re used to seeing as it usually features a sheen.

You may be able to find brown, silver, and gold hyena prints with black spots at online stores, but in person fabric shops will be harder to source from.

Jaguar Print

The jaguar print has become a sought-after design due to its rare and exotic reputation. This animal pattern skyrocketed into the mainstream back in 2010 when country singer Carrie Underwood wore a dress featuring the jaguar print during the Grammys.

Designers Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors both used jaguar print in their collections back in the 2000s, keeping their color choice as neutral as possible to maintain a more chic look to their more classic silhouettes.

Leopard Print

A classic in the animal print fashion world, the leopard print became increasingly popular in the 1930s after the movie Tarzan the Apeman used it prominently along with its two leads. The leopard print has been a staple in the industry ever since and is the most common type of animal print that you will come across.

Some people love it and use it year after year, while others consider it to be super tacky and stay well clear.

Lizard Print

Lizard print is something that was popular in the 1990s for a bit, but then tailed off. That hasn’t stopped luxury designer brands such as Gucci, Prada and Christian Louboutin from using the real thing in their bags and shoes though.

Snake Print

Besides the crocodile print, the snake print comes in green and tan with different shades of black, which closely resembles its serpentine inspiration. The snake print became quite popular in the fashion scene in the 80s when it was prominently used in a line of Levi’s jeans.

Tiger Print

The tiger print is another versatile pattern type that comes in various mixes of colors, such as brown, black, and gray stripes, and is usually partnered with red. It has become a typical pattern for animal prints nowadays and is right up there with its feline siblings.

Zebra Print

Dior popularized the zebra print in the 70s as the animal print landscape needed fresh ideas and looks. The zebra print was initially a high-end fashion fabric that comes in a surprisingly wide range of colors, not just black and white.

Now it is frequently used from luxury designers right through to the mass market.

Is It Ethical To Use Animal Prints In Fashion?

Finally, as it is part of an ongoing discussion, I thought I’d mention the common talking points about the ethics of using animal prints in fashion.

Reasons Against

The common reasons against using animal prints on fabrics within the fashion industry are:

1. Animal welfare: the discussion revolves around whether the use of animal prints actually increases the demand for the ‘real thing’ by popularizing certain animal skins and making them more likely to be hunted.
2. Cultural insensitivity: for some cultures, the use of animal prints is seen as insensitive, and a form of cultural appropriation.

Reasons For

And then the common reasons that people are for using animal prints are:

1. Environmental impact: I touched on this further up but the production of real animal skins and furs is not environmentally friendly, so people would rather see animal prints used than actual animal skins.
2. Cultural Significance: while animal prints can be seen by some to be culturally insensitive, to those whose culture they’re part of, it can be a way of expressing their identity or social status.
3. Love of nature: being inspired by nature, of which the animals depicted in animal prints are part of, is often another reason given for those who are not against using animal prints in fashion. Rather it is seen as a way of appreciating those animals more.

Other Reasons For Using (Or Not) Animal Prints

Finally some of the other reasons I have come across for whether it is ok (or not) to use animal prints in fashion include:

• Animal prints in bright colors – or even just well designed for that matter – can create quite the fashion statement which many people enjoy.
• Longevity, by which I do not mean how long the fabric will last, more that animal prints are rarely out of fashion, so a garment in a classic silhouette using an animal print is likely to be wearable for many years.
• Tackiness is a reason for people avoiding animal print fabrics and garments – it is seen by some to be overused and tacky and best avoided at all costs!

I myself do not have any garments – made or purchased – that have an animal print, but it isn’t through any conscious awareness. More that for the most part I have always been drawn to fabrics in solid colors and more recently I’ve been drawn more towards color or texture, and animal print hasn’t necessarily fallen into either category.

How do you feel about animal prints? Have you ever used them? Do you steer clear and for what reasons? Would love to hear more in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy a post I wrote diving into faux fur vs real fur or perhaps a look at the differences between man made vs synthetic vs natural fibers?