Color pattern

Breton stripe

Horizontal stripes associated with the French marinière and nautical knitwear.

Also searched as: marinière stripe, sailor stripe

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Schematic motif family, not an exact swatch or registered design. Color, scale and repeats vary; closely related names can overlap in trade use.

How it is made

Classic marinières use contrasting stripes knitted into the garment cloth. Modern versions vary the palette, spacing and position of the bands.

How to recognize it

Look for horizontal color bands, often with a larger unstriped area near the neckline.

Common uses

  • Jersey tops
  • Sweaters
  • Children’s clothing

What to distinguish

Historic uniform proportions describe a particular garment standard, not every contemporary Breton top. Horizontal stripes are a pattern choice, not a weave.

Sources & further reading

Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.

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