Clothing
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226094194
2008-07-16T20:14:20Z
MattieTK
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/86.131.247.82|86.131.247.82]] to last version by Shir-El too (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{Articleissues|OR=August 2007|synthesis=August 2007}}
[[Image:Well-clothed baby.jpg|thumb|A [[baby]] wearing many items of [[winter]] clothing: [[headband]], [[cap]], fur-lined [[coat]], [[shawl]] and [[sweater]].]]
'''Clothing''' (also called '''clothes''', '''accoutrements''', '''accouterments''', or '''habiliments''') protects the [[human body]] from extreme [[weather]] and other features of the [[environment (biophysical)|environment]]. It is worn for safety, comfort, and [[modesty]] and to reflect [[religion|religious]], [[culture|cultural]] and social meaning.
The practical function of clothing is to protect the [[human body]] from dangers in the environment: weather (strong [[sunlight]], extreme [[heat]] or [[cold]], and [[precipitation]], for example), [[insect]]s, noxious chemicals, [[weapon]]s, and contact with abrasive substances, and other hazards. Clothing can protect against many things that might injure the naked human body. In some cases clothing protects the environment from the clothing wearer as well (example: [[scrubs (clothing)|medical scrubs]]).
Humans have shown extreme inventiveness in devising clothing solutions to practical problems and the distinction between clothing and other protective equipment is not always clear-cut; examples include [[space suit]], [[air conditioned clothing]], [[armour]], [[diving suit]], [[swimsuit]], [[Beekeeping#Protective clothing|bee-keeper's costume]], [[motorcycle leathers]], [[high-visibility clothing]], and [[protective clothing]].
People also decorate their bodies with [[makeup]] or [[cosmetics]], scented perfume, and other [[Human physical appearance#Clothing and personal effects|ornamentation]]; they also cut, dye, and arrange the hair on their heads, [[Facial hair|face]]s, and bodies (see [[hairstyle]]), and sometimes also mark their skin (by [[tattoo]]s, [[scarification]]s, and [[piercing]]s). All these decorations contribute to the overall effect and message of clothing, but do not constitute clothing.
Articles carried rather than worn (such as [[purse]]s, [[cane]]s, and [[umbrella]]s) are normally counted as [[fashion accessory|fashion accessories]] rather than as clothing, but hats and small dress sweaters can be called clothing or accessories. [[Jewellery]] and [[eyeglasses]] are usually counted as accessories as well, even though in common speech these particular items are described as being worn rather than carried.
==Origin and history of clothing==
{{main|History of clothing}}
[[Image:Neandertal.jpg|thumb|A [[Neanderthal]] clothed in [[fur]]]]
[[Image:Raverin.jpg|thumb|A rave style, 2007]]
According to archaeologists and anthropologists, the earliest clothing probably consisted of [[fur]], [[leather]], leaves or grass, draped, wrapped or tied about the body for protection from the elements. Knowledge of such clothing remains inferential, since clothing materials deteriorate quickly compared to stone, bone, shell and metal artifacts. Archeologists have identified very early [[sewing needle]]s of bone and ivory from about 30,000 BC, found near [[Kostenki]], [[Russia]] in 1988.
Ralf Kittler, Manfred Kayser and Mark Stoneking, [[anthropology|anthropologists]] at the [[Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology]], have conducted a genetic analysis of human [[body lice]] that indicates that they originated about 107,000 years ago. Since most humans have very sparse body hair, body lice require clothing to survive, so this suggests a surprisingly recent date for the invention of clothing. Its invention may have coincided with the spread of modern ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' from the warm [[climate]] of [[Africa]], thought to have begun between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago. However, a second group of researchers used similar genetic methods to estimate that body lice originated about 540,000 years ago (Reed et al. 2004. PLoS Biology 2(11): e340). For now, the date of the origin of clothing remains unresolved.
Some human cultures, such as the various peoples of the [[Arctic Circle]], until recently made their clothing entirely of furs and skins, cutting clothing to fit and decorating lavishly.
Other cultures have supplemented or replaced leather and skins with cloth: woven, knitted, or twined from various animal and vegetable fibres. {{seealso|weaving|knitting|twining}}
Although modern consumers take clothing for granted, making the fabrics that go into clothing is not easy. One sign of this is that the [[textile]] industry was the first to be mechanized during the [[Industrial Revolution]]; before the invention of the [[power loom|powered loom]], textile production was a tedious and labor-intensive process. Therefore, methods were developed for making most efficient use of textiles.
One approach simply involves draping the cloth. Many peoples wore, and still wear, garments consisting of rectangles of cloth wrapped to fit — for example, the [[dhoti]] for men and the [[saree]] for women in the [[Indian subcontinent]], the Scottish [[kilt]] or the [[Java (island)|Javanese]] [[sarong]]. The clothes may simply be tied up, as is the case of the first two garments; or pins or belts hold the garments in place, as in the case of the latter two. The precious cloth remains uncut, and people of various sizes or the same person at different sizes can wear the garment.
Another approach involves cutting and sewing the cloth, but using every bit of the cloth rectangle in constructing the clothing. The tailor may cut triangular pieces from one corner of the cloth, and then add them elsewhere as gussets. Traditional European patterns for men's [[shirt]]s and women's [[chemise]]s take this approach.
Modern European [[fashion]] treats cloth much more prodigally, typically cutting in such a way as to leave various odd-shaped cloth remnants. Industrial sewing operations sell these as waste; home sewers may turn them into [[quilt]]s.
In the thousands of years that humans have spent constructing clothing, they have created an astonishing array of styles, many of which we can reconstruct from surviving garments, [[photo]]s, [[painting]]s, [[mosaic]]s, etc., as well as from written descriptions. Costume history serves as a source of inspiration to current [[fashion designer]]s, as well as a topic of [[professional]] interest to costumers constructing for [[Play (theatre)|plays]], [[film]]s, [[television]], and [[historical reenactment]].
{{seealso|History of Western fashion|:Category:History of clothing}}
== Social status==
[[Image:Prokudin-Gorskii-19.jpg|thumb|[[Alim Khan]]'s bemedaled [[robe]] is a social message]]
In many societies, people of high rank reserve special items of clothing or decoration for themselves as symbols of their [[social status]]. In ancient times, only [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] senators could wear garments dyed with [[Tyrian purple]]; only high-ranking [[Hawaiian]] chiefs could wear [[feather cloak]]s and palaoa or carved [[whale]] teeth. Under the [[Travancore]] kingdom of [[Kerala]] ([[India]]), lower [[caste]] women had to pay a tax for the right to cover their upper body. In [[China]] before the establishment of the [[Republic of China|republic]], only the emperor could wear [[yellow]]. In many cases throughout history, there have been elaborate systems of [[sumptuary law]]s regulating who could wear what. In other societies (including most modern societies) no laws prohibit lower-status people wearing high status garments, but the high cost of status garments effectively limits their purchase and display. In current Western society, only the rich can afford [[haute couture]]. The threat of social ostracism may also limit garment choice. If one is not wearing a specific brand or style of clothing one's social status may fall.
== Marital status ==
{{seealso|Visual markers of marital status}}
Traditionally Hindu women, once [[marriage|married]], would wear ''[[sindoor]]'', a red powder, in the parting of their hair. If widowed, they would abandon ''sindoor'' and jewelry and wear simple white clothing. Men and women of the Western world may wear [[wedding ring]]s to indicate their marital status. Also women in the [[United States]], depending on their heritage and/or religion, will usually wear a simple or extravagant white gown, although some movie stars have been known to wear a black party dress for their wedding.
== Religious habits and special religious clothing ==
Religious clothing might be considered a special case of occupational clothing. Sometimes it is worn only during the performance of religious ceremonies. However, it may also be worn everyday as a marker for special religious status.
For example, [[Jain]]s wear unstitched cloth pieces when performing religious ceremonies. The unstitched cloth signifies unified and complete devotion to the task at hand, with no digression.
The cleanliness of religious dresses in Eastern Religions like [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] is of paramount importance, which indicates purity.
Clothing figures in prominently in the [[Bible]] where it appears in numerous contexts, the more prominent ones being: the story of Adam and Eve, Joseph's cloak, Judah and Tamar, Mordechai and Esther. Furthermore the priests officiating in the Temple had very specific garments, the lack of which would make one liable to death.
Jewish ritual also requires rending of one's upper garment as a sign of mourning. This practice is found in the Bible when Jacob hears of the apparent death of his son Joseph.<ref>http://www.divreinavon.com/pdf/BegedSimlaJBQ.pdf</ref>
:''See also: [[:Category:Religious vesture]].''
==Sport and activity==
Most sports and physical activities are practiced wearing special clothing, for practical, comfort or safety reasons. Common [[sportswear]] garments include [[shorts]], [[T-shirt]]s, [[tennis shirt]]s, [[tracksuit]]s, and [[athletic shoe|trainers]]. Specialised garments include [[wet suit]]s (for [[swimming]], [[diving]] or [[surfing]]), [[salopettes]] (for [[skiing]] and [[leotards]] for [[gymnastics]]). Also, spandex materials are often used as base layers to soak up sweat. Spandex is also preferable for active sports that require form fitting garments, such as wrestling, [[track & field]], dance, [[gymnastics]] and [[swimming]].
==Clothing materials==
Common clothing materials include natural fibers, which are renewable, biodegradable, such as:
* [[Cloth]], typically made of viscose [[cotton]], [[flax]], [[wool]], [[ramie]], [[silk]]
* [[Down feathers|Down]] for down-filled [[parka]]s
* [[Fur clothing|Fur]]
* [[Leather]]
* [[Denim]]
And synthetic fibers which are man made and not biodegradable, made primarily from petrochemicals"
* [[Spandex]]
*[[Polyester]]
*[[lyocell]]
*[[Nylon]]
Less-common clothing materials include:
* [[Paper recycling|Recycled paper]]
* [[Jute]]
* [[Rubber]]
* [[Polyvinyl chloride|PVC]]-Polyvinyl chloride
* Recycled [[Polyethylene terephthalate|PET]]
* [[Tyvek]]
* [[Rayon]]
* [[Hemp]]
* [[Bamboo]]
* Recycled or Recovered [[Cotton]]
* [[Soy]]
* Other [[Natural Fiber]]s
Reinforcing materials such as [[wood]], [[bone]], [[plastic]] and [[metal]] may be used in [[fastener]]s or to stiffen garments.
==Clothing maintenance==
Clothing suffers assault both from within and without. The human body sheds skin cells and body oils, and exudes sweat, urine, and feces. From the outside, sun damage, moisture, abrasion and dirt assault garments. Fleas and lice may hide in seams. Worn clothing, if not cleaned and refurbished, will itch, look scruffy, and lose functionality (as when [[button]]s fall off and [[zipper]]s fail).
In some cases, people wear an item of clothing until it falls apart. Cleaning leather presents difficulties, and bark cloth (tapa) cannot be washed without dissolving it. Owners may patch tears and rips, and brush off surface dirt, but old leather and bark clothing will always look ''old''.
But most clothing consists of cloth, and most cloth can be [[laundry|laundered]] and mended (patching, [[darning]], but compare [[felt]]).
=== Laundry, ironing, storage ===
Humans have developed many specialized methods for laundering, ranging from the earliest "pound clothes against rocks in running stream" to the latest in electronic [[washing machine]]s and [[dry cleaning]] (dissolving dirt in [[solvents]] other than water).
Many kinds of clothing are designed to be [[Ironing|ironed]] before they are worn to remove wrinkles. Most modern formal and semi-formal clothing is in this category (for example, [[dress shirt]]s and [[suit (clothing)|suits]]). Ironed clothes are believed to look clean, fresh, and neat. Much contemporary casual clothing is made of knit materials that do not readily wrinkle, and do not require ironing. Some clothing is [[permanent press]], having been treated with a coating (such as [[polytetrafluoroethylene]]) that suppresses wrinkles and creates a smooth appearance without ironing.
Once clothes have been laundered and possibly ironed, they are usually hung on [[clothes hanger]]s or folded, to keep them fresh until they are worn. Clothes are [[Folding|fold]]ed to allow them to be stored compactly, to prevent [[crease|creasing]], to preserve creases or to present them in a more pleasing manner, for instance when they are put on sale in stores.
Many kinds of clothes are folded before they are put in [[suitcase]]s as preparation for travel. Other clothes, such as [[suit (clothing)|suit]]s, may be hung up in special garment bags, or rolled rather than folded. Many people use their clothing as packing material around fragile items that might otherwise break in transit.
=== Mending ===
In past times, mending was an art. A meticulous [[tailor]] or [[seamstress]] could mend rips with thread raveled from [[hem]]s and seam edges so skillfully that the darn was practically invisible. When the raw material — cloth — was worth more than labor, it made sense to expend labor in saving it. Today clothing is considered a consumable item. Mass-manufactured clothing is less expensive than the labor required to repair it. Many people will buy a new piece of clothing rather than expend time mending. The thrifty still replace [[zipper]]s and [[button]]s and sew up ripped [[hem]]s.
== The life cycle of clothing ==
Used, unwearable clothing was once used for [[quilt]]s, [[rag]], [[rug]]s, [[bandage]]s, and many other household uses. It could also be recycled into [[paper]]. Now it is usually thrown away. Used but still wearable clothing can be sold at [[consignment shop]]s, [[flea market]]s, [[online auction]], or donated to charity. Charities usually skim the best of the clothing to sell in their own [[thrift store]]s and sell the rest to merchants, who bale it up and ship it to [[Third World]] countries, where vendors bid for the bales, then sell the used clothing.
There are many concerns about the life cycle of synthetics which come primarily from petrochemicals. Unlike natural fibers, their source is not renewable (in less than millions of years) and they are not biodegradable.
==Early 21st-century clothing styles==
Western fashion has, to some extent, become international fashion, as Western media and styles penetrate all parts of the world. Few places remain where people do not wear items of cheap, mass-produced Western clothing. People in poor countries can afford [[Used good|used]] clothing from wealthier Western countries.
People may wear ethnic or [[national costume|national dress]] on special occasions or in certain roles or occupations. For example, most Japanese women have adopted Western-style dress for daily wear, but will still wear silk [[kimono]]s on special occasions. Items of Western dress may also appear worn or accessorized in distinctive, non-Western ways. A Tongan man may combine a used [[T-shirt]] with a Tongan wrapped skirt, or [[tupenu]].
Western fashion, too, does not function monolithically. It comes in many varieties, from expensive [[haute couture]] to [[thrift store]] [[grunge]].
===Regional styles===
*[[Clothing of Europe and Russia]]
*[[Clothing in the Americas]]
**[[South American fashion]]
**[[United States mainstream fashion]]
:For example: "[[Mail-order catalog|Catalogue]]" fashion, regional styles such as [[preppy]] or [[Western wear]].
**[[United States alternative fashion]]
:These fashions are often associated with fans of various musical styles.
{{seealso|Gothic fashion|Hippie|Grunge|Hip hop music|Fetish clothing}}
*[[Clothing in Asia]]
*[[Clothing in Africa]]
*[[Clothing in Oceania]]
*[[Islamic clothing]]
==Political issues==
===Working conditions===
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
The clothing industry is concentrated outside of [[Western Europe]] and the [[United States]], and wherever they are, garment workers often have to labor under poor conditions. Coalitions of [[NGO]]s, designers (Katharine Hamnett, [[American Apparel]], [[Veja Sneakers|Veja]], [[Quiksilver]], eVocal, Edun,...) and campaign groups like the [[Clean Clothes Campaign]] (CCC) seek to improve these conditions as much as possible by sponsoring awareness-raising events, which draw the attention of both the media and the general public to the workers' conditions.
[[Outsourcing]] production to low wage countries like [[China]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Bangladesh]] became possible when the [[Multi Fibre Agreement]] (MFA) was abolished. The MFA was deemed a protectionist measure which placed quotas on the exports of textiles. [[Globalization]] is often quoted as the single most contributing factor to the poor [[Occupational safety and health|working conditions]] of garment workers. Although many countries recognize treaties like the ILO, many have also made exceptions to certain parts of the treaties. India for example has not ratified sections 87 and 92 of the treaty.
===Fur===
The use of animal fur in clothing is currently associated in the West with expensive, designer clothing. Once uncontroversial, it has recently been the focus of campaigns on the grounds that it is cruel and unnecessary. See also [[fur clothing]] and [[fur farming]], and see [[PETA]], [[animal rights]] and [[animal liberation]] for more general discussion of relevant issues.
Others counter that clothing for cold weather is very much a necessity and the most common of furs, sheepskin and rabbit are clearly not elitist. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} Mink and fox, raised on farms, consume the leftovers of our food production. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} If one is eating chicken, fish, dairy, beef, one is participating in a process that feeds mink and fox, which in turn creates pelts for cold weather clothing, fine oils and other products. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} The carnivores have a niche, even in an industrial food production process designed to deliver food to 6 billion people. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} Also, many conservationists and scientists are concerned about the long-term impact of synthetic fibers, including fake furs, which are not biodegradale. {{Fact|date=June 2008}}
==See also==
{{sisterlinks|clothing}}
* [[Clothing terminology]]
* [[Nudity]]
* [[Costume]]
* [[Clothes valet]]
* [[Clothes hanger]]
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
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*[http://www.itaaonline.org/template.asp?intPageId=1 International Textile and Apparel Assosiation], scholars pubblications
*[http://www.marquise.de La Couturière Parisienne]
*[http://www.german-hosiery-museum.de/hosiery-museum.htm German Hosiery Museum (English language)]
*[http://www.eva.mpg.de/genetics/pdf/Kittler.CurBiol.2003.pdf Molecular Evolution of Pediculus humanus and the Origin of Clothing] by Ralf Kittler, Manfred Kayser and Mark Stoneking (.[[PDF]] file)
{{Clothing}}
[[Category:Clothing| ]]
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