The term 'bizarre silk' was invented by art historian Dr. Vilhelm Sloman in 1957 to describe this specific style of silk, which he believed to have been designed and produced in India. In fact, these fabrics were exclusively produced in Europe, beginning in Lyon, France in the late 17th century, then also in Spitalfields, England as well as Italy by the early 18th century. 'Bizarre' silks were characterized by bright colors and fantastical floral and asymmetrical designs inspired by Asian motifs introduced to Europe through the rise of trade in fabrics from India and China through the 17th century. These designs distinguished 'bizarre' silks from earlier more formal and symmetrical Baroque silks, and later more naturalistic Rococo silks, though like 'bizarre' both Baroque and Rococo were not specifically used at the time.