Quilt-y as Charged: The Bold Rise of Quilted Fashion

Image:  Rodrigo Sümmer / Unsplash

From pastel puffers to heirloom-inspired patchwork coats, quilted fashion has firmly stitched itself into the spotlight. No longer merely practical, these pieces blend comfort, craftsmanship, and a confident contemporary edge—proof that softness can make a bold statement.

Once seen as a countryside staple, layered over turtlenecks or for weekend strolls, quilting has evolved. Today, it is a distinctive style signature, appearing on sidewalks and runways alike. From Johannesburg to Tokyo, padded pieces are everywhere, confirming this is no fleeting trend—it’s the new wardrobe essential.

A History Woven in Warmth

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Quilting is far from a passing fad; it is a centuries-old technique rooted in utility and artistry. Long before it graced high-fashion runways, quilted garments carried layered meanings—identity, protection, and craftsmanship stitched into every seam.

In medieval Europe, padded gambesons shielded knights beneath armour, merging survival with structure. Across Asia, traditions such as Japan’s sashiko and India’s kantha transformed quilting into a language of repair and resilience—functional stitches that evolved into refined artistry.

The word quilt stems from the Latin culcita, meaning “cushion”—a soft beginning for what would become a powerful sartorial statement. One of the earliest surviving examples, the 14th-century Tristan Quilt from Sicily—now housed at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum—remains a striking reminder that quilting has always told a story.

2023–2025: The Rise of the Padded Look

Image: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images |  Image:  Aitor Rosas Sune/WWD via Getty Images

Quilting shed its homespun reputation and confidently stepped onto the runway in Fall/Winter 2023. At Prada, models appeared in crisp, duvet-like white skirts and a dress—softening luxury’s sharp lines with gentle volume. Balenciaga followed with monastic black outerwear: sharp-shouldered, high-collared, and fully enveloping, as if shielding wearers from both weather and the world.

By 2024, the padded look had become fashion’s favourite form of protection. Skims x The North Face introduced gender-neutral puffers in muted earth tones, merging function with fluidity and sensual restraint. In style capitals from Brooklyn to Johannesburg to Seoul, oversized bombers, quilted co-ords, and hand-stitched patchwork jackets became the uniform of the creative class.

Entering 2025, quilting had matured into a global design lexicon. At Valentino’s Haute Couture show in Paris, a colossal quilted gown commanded attention—sculptural, kaleidoscopic, and richly theatrical, like a childhood heirloom reimagined as high drama. Elsewhere, brands pushed the form forward: Acne Studios and Rabanne embraced laminated finishes, Coach played with proportion, and Prada returned with cocooned silhouettes edged in quiet futurism.

Global Influence, Local Identity

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The allure of quilted fashion lies in its adaptability. In warmer regions, quilting transcends its traditional role of insulation to become a deliberate style statement. In fashion capitals like Paris and London, spring wardrobes often trade bulky bombers for lightweight quilted vests that add subtle texture without weight. Meanwhile, in vibrant cities such as Mumbai and Lagos—where snow is absent but sartorial creativity thrives—quilted waistcoats and utility vests serve as tactile accents, embraced more for their visual and textural appeal than for warmth.

Further south, in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where winters are mild, designers favor mid-weight quilted coats and vests layered thoughtfully over knitwear. South African boutiques increasingly stock vibrant quilted jackets that echo global trends while proudly showcasing local prints and colors, weaving heritage into contemporary fashion.

A standout example came at South African Fashion Week AW24, where designer Oyama Gonintebe earned well-deserved industry recognition. Her Autumn/Winter 2024 collection masterfully fused modern aesthetics with her Xhosa heritage, featuring striking quilted padded outerwear that celebrated a powerful dialogue between tradition and innovation. This fusion captured the essence of quilting’s evolving role—as both cultural storytelling and cutting-edge style.

Images: SA Fashion Week. Oyama Gonintebe AW24 Lookbook.

The Final Stitch: Softness as Strength

The beauty of this trend is its inclusivity. Quilted garments, soft yet structured, often oversized, embrace all bodies, genders, and generations. Quilted fashion has stitched its way from function to fashion, without shedding its soul. It’s comfortable, creative, and undeniably current. Call it puffy, patchy, or plush—quilted style is here to stay.