The History of Animal Print (2024)

Animal print, with its captivating patterns and timeless statement, has caused many different opinions over time. At Nova of London, we are always thrilled and excited to incorporate animal prints into our designs. Our team is constantly on the lookout for the latest trends and recognise that wholesale animal print is more popular now than ever. But where did this come from?

The Beginning…

Animal prints have a wide history going back hundreds of years and even played a big part in evolution as they were used for survival techniques in many different cultures rather than a fashion statement. These cultures include Roman Emperors and Egyptian Pharaohs wearing animal skins as a sign of power and status, and African Zulu wearing leopard print as a symbol of celebration. Animal print has also been seen as a representation of wealth as the Roman Emperor Honorius banned it to keep its exclusivity and worth.

The Rise of Animal Print

In the early 1930s, monarchs believed that animal print gave them the power of the creature it came from and used this as a staple to show social status. For example, cheetah print would supposedly give them the speed of a cheetah, snake print the wisdom of a snake, and leopard print the strength of a leopard. Television and film also had a massive impact on the rise of animal print such as ‘Tarzan the Apeman’ which was released in 1932. Here the characters were seen wearing animal print and viewers saw this as daring, alluring and adventurous. Manufacturers recognised this and released more and more clothing that incorporated animal print which caused the demand to grow.

In the 1980s, a time of unbridled excess, eye-catching and vibrant animal prints were on everything and everywhere. From dresses, jumpsuits and boots to undergarments and accessories, bold was always better. It quickly became a staple of the decade’s fashion landscape, with legendary celebrities like Madonna and Prince incorporating it into their looks. The early 2000s Camden indie scene was a hub for leopard print’s sleazy revival, with Amy Winehouse’s rockabilly style often featuring the bold print as well as Kate Moss’ signature looks that featured biker boots, skinny jeans and a statement animal print coat. So why is it still a staple now?

The ‘Mob Wife’ Trend

In 2024 the ‘mob wife aesthetic’ became a major phenomenon and has led to an even greater surge in the want for animal prints. This style combines a sense of streetwise sensibility with sophisticated and high-end fashion despite its questionable connection to crime and mobsters’ romantic partners. The trend considers striking animal designs, lustrous black leather and opulent jewellery accompanied by a fabulous large faux fur coat, referencing iconic figures such as Victoria Gotti and Carmela Soprano.

The ‘mob wife’ trend has gone viral on all social media platforms with TikTok being the main perpetrator. Creators such as Sarah Jordan Arcuri have described it as “Clean girl is out, mob wife era is in”, implying we are saying goodbye to quiet luxury and bringing in loud and bold fashion. With the approvals of celebrities and fashion figures such as Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber, this has caused animal prints to excel once again.

Wholesale Animal Print

Looking to jump on the mob wife trend or just want to style animal print for your boutique? We’ve got you covered!

Here at Nova of London, we stock a large amount of faux fur animal coats so your customers can kickstart their mob wife wardrobe! Styles include NV3294, an iconic oversized wool blend leopard pattern, NL5116 a fantastic soft all-over tiger print and NV3355 if you’re looking for a more subtle luxurious leopard print.

For a more understated animal print look, youcould pair QED2801, a beautiful asymmetric leopard hem blouse or QED2959, an elegant leopard sheer top with NL222204, a simple but stunning wet look legging or loose flared trouser like NL222200, for a more relaxed look. We also stock a number of different animal print transitional dresses for example NL245823, a gorgeous leopard midi, NL222920, a flattering zebra shirt dress, NL245887, a charming tiger pattern tie dress and NL234850, a contemporary snake print pleated dress.

Nova of London is on top of the latest trends such as animal print and has all the wholesale clothing styles to keep your businesses fashionably stocked. Shop wholesale essentials in both core and plus-size lines, featuring the newest seasonal trends at affordable prices! Shop everything wholesale animal here.