2. - Warmth
- Protection from the sun and elements
- Evidence suggests ornamentation as far back
as the Bronze age
- Cultural/societal
- Social standing
- Modesty
- Religion
3.
4. During the Neolithic Era, Europe and the Near East
use flax while China used Hemp
Both are bast fibers, cultivated from plant stalks
Approximately 4000 BCE animal fibers were
employed
West: wool
East: silk
Animal fibers are better for warmth and dyeing color
Finally, tunics were soft and light in weight, therefore
they were worn under itchy wool, allowing for
simultaneous comfort and presentation, not unlike
today’s dress
5. The female version of a man’s cloak, just by
adding squares of fabric
Shields the undergarments
Provides a way for women to carry objects
and food
Similar to the string skirt (Chapter 2), the apron
came to represent a woman’s marital status.
6.
7. Reflecting necessity based upon:
Availability of materials
Climate
Landscape
Way of life
Some examples include:
Trousers and jackets made for men on horseback
Leather slippers with added protection for rocky
terrain
8. In chapter five we saw the avenues of clothing
as necessity, but chapter six deals with clothing
that establishes one’s social purpose in the
world.
9.
10. Clothing came to show who a person was.Visual
symbols were used with textiles to provide
answers of one’s social status or rank. An
example in our current times of showing social
status would be wearing a wedding band
signifying that one is married.An example of
showing social rank would be a man wearing
cufflinks on a suit, signifying his wealth.
11. Firstly, textiles can be used to mark or
announce information.
Minoan women would wear a scarf tied in a
“sacred knot” which would show that she was in
service of a deity.
12. They can be used as a mnemonic device to
record history or other information
Greek women created large tapestries that
recorded Greek important events, and were kept
in Greek temples where they could be seen on
occasion.
13. Textile decoration was used for magical
purposes as means to provide protection,
show or incite fertility or riches, to see the
future or to even cast a curse.
Given that red symbolized vitality, red
embroideries were made on Slavic clothing at the
neck hole, wrists and shirttails as means to ward
off demons from crawling into ones body and
causing him/her bodily or mental harm.
14. Humans have used clothing as a device to
express meaning without even saying a word.
In the past, the string skirt symbolized a
readiness for childbearing emphasizing the
woman’s “purpose.”
In contrast, in our current culture clothing is
commonly a representation of one’s self, and
not a perceived purpose on earth.
Editor's Notes
The advent in the fourth millenium B.C of colored thread, in the form of various natural and dyed hues of wool spurred a major revolution in the clothes that people wore.
As early as the bronze age, evidence suggests that clothing had evolved into more complex regional costumes.
Art is about as old as mankind. From cave art, to figurines, to decorating the body by way of paint, piercings, and tattoos. It was only a matter of time and a natural evolution into the decoration of garments.
Figurines from the Neolithic period portrayed people with decorated garments, like paint onto a canvas.
However, given what we know about these earliest dyes, the pigments likely would not have survived a washing.
This would imply that people would have to redecorate their clothing for each event, or occasion, as is still practices in some parts of Africa today.
Relatively few Neolithic Figurines wear clothes and those that do are predominately female. The simplest of straight skirts, often ankle length, characterizes the common garb for women in central Europe, Egypt, and probably Mesopotamia.
One of our earliest finds of actual textiles was from a cave in Israel circa 6500 BC. Pictured above, what was thought to be a ceremonial hat, is actually a needle-netted linen bag
Just like biologist, historians use comparative analysis to piece together the evolution of clothing.
Aprons were seen as the female version of cloaks, just by adding squares of fabric
Aprons shielded the undergarments and provided a way for women to carry objects and food
Similar to the string skirt (Chapter 2), the apron came to represent a woman’s marital status
These are types of women’s uncut overwraps
The first is a narrow front and back apron, the second a wraparound back apron with a small front apron to cover the gap, the third a wide apron sewn up into a skirt, and the last skirt raised and lengthened to form a simple jumper.
The production of clothing depended on the following factors: availability of materials, climate, landscape, and way of life.
At around 1000 BCE trousers and fitted jackets were made to accommodate men riding horseback.
Similarly, leather slippers with turned-up tips were worn in the central Balkans to prevent stubbing one’s toes.
