Stripes have made a notable resurgence in fashion during the summer months of 2026, appearing widely across runways and retail platforms. Online demand for striped jumpers increased by 93 percent between July and August, according to data from a global retail platform. Designers such as Michael Kors, Dior, and Dries Van Noten featured stripes prominently in their spring/summer 2027 collections, indicating the trend’s likely persistence.

Stripes have a long and varied history, crossing social classes and symbolic meanings. The classic blue-and-white Breton striped tops, once part of the French navy uniform introduced in 1858, trace their lineage back to Saint James, a French brand producing them since 1889. Popularised by Coco Chanel after World War I and later by Jean Paul Gaultier in the 1980s, the Breton stripe became an enduring staple in fashion, worn by figures including Pablo Picasso, Brigitte Bardot, and Alexa Chung. Meanwhile, the pinstripe suit emerged in the 1990s and 2000s as a marker of status and power among bankers in London and New York.

The history of stripes is not without controversy. Historically, striped apparel was often associated with marginalisation. In medieval Europe, stripes signified deviance and were worn by criminals, clowns, prostitutes, and others ostracised from society. This association was evident during the 13th century when the Carmelite Order’s striped cloaks provoked hostility. Returning to France from the Holy Land in 1254, the Carmelites wore striped garments that locals mocked, which led to papal bans on striped clothing for monks in subsequent decades.

Stripes have continued to bear complex connotations. In addition to representing social transgression, they were traditionally used to identify prisoners, notably in Nazi concentration camps and American penitentiaries such as Alcatraz. Yet stripes have also been embraced in maritime contexts, associated with sailors, fishermen, and holidaymakers in coastal communities. The sailors’ striped uniform has its roots in the French navy and can be traced back as far as the 17th century.

In popular culture, stripes maintain their dual symbolism. They have been emblematic of rebellion, adopted by punk musicians like the Ramones and comic characters that exemplify mischief, including Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx. Stripes have a recurring presence during periods of social and economic instability. For example, their popularity after World War I and following the 2008 financial crisis suggests a connection to societal upheaval.

Anthropologists and historians argue that stripes function as both symbols of disorder and mechanisms of order. Unlike chaotic or random patterns, stripes consist of controlled, straight lines—signifying a “tamed” form of transgression. In the Middle Ages, stripes were often imposed on those who still had the potential for social reintegration rather than complete exclusion.

This dual nature may explain why stripes are resurging amid the complexities of contemporary life. Their pattern, combining visual disruption with geometric regularity, could represent an aesthetic longing for stability and control amid ongoing social and political challenges.