​The spread of striped skirts in North Estonian female clothing was influenced by the Empire-style stripes and checks, i.e. the fashionable clothes of the second half of the 18th century Europe. At the end of the 18th century a large quantity of striped silk was imported to Tallinn from Lübeck. A catalogue of cloth samples from one of the biggest stores, Mayer's, has survived until today. Many samples from the catalogue are also reflected in Estonian folk costumes and coverlets