…as patterns to create the huge & complex court ensembles of the 1780’s.
It kept the French textile industry in business in spite of the superior English manufacturing methods, and dyed cotton from India that were readily available at the time.
America, not yet able to manufacture their own textiles to meet their needs, was importing ideas and materials from all of them.
(photo: 1780 Marie Antionette “wanna be’s” wearing complex costumes to the French court as required by King Louis.)