The fabrics produced today are so versatile that a suitable garment can be found for any occassion or season of the year.Their qualities of grease -resistant ,shape retention and easy care keep them neat and comfortable where ever you are.
From all the natural fibres ,wool is probably the most versatile and the variations of yarn span from wool fibres enable fabric designers to produce a wide variety of fabrics ranging from which tweeds to fine shirting and transparent fabrics.
The versatility of synthetic fibres (particulary nylon ,polyester and acrylic fibre) and the almost unlimited variations of yarns produced from them. have led to the production of a wide range of fabrics suitable for garment for every occassion and all the seasons of the year.This versatility is shown even more clearly by the ever increasing production of blended and mixture fabrics for both summer and winter wear.
History of Clothing:The existence of humanities on this planet associated with various clothing styles which continued to be improved with researches and civilisation in cultural dynamics.Culture is basically the history of man's social inheritence from partly the past and partly from the contemporary innovations .(means new ideas taking place at the same time)
Clothing is one of the many elements that comprise the total culture of a group of people yet its one or the most visual expressions or habits ,thoughts, techniques and conditions that characterise a society as a whole.
Man used grass and rows and reeds to weave into roofing to provide shelter.Grass skirts worn in the pacific islands where one of the simplest and earliest form of dress .
Civilisation progressed and people discovered the natural fibres around them and learnt to twist them in to yarns and weave into fabric.
Gradually simple weaving techniques were discovered and applied to fibres.The interweaving of finer fibres made fabrics from the fibrous part of plants(flax plant).
Simple pieces of flat fabric appeared and have been used in all cultures throughout history for example sheets,towels ,shawls ,table and bed linen the Indian sari and chitenje.The headgear of the Hereno women of Namibia ,later the shape was introduced to make clothes for nurses cloaks ,the briblical veil and so on.
Universalities in clothing:Here we are to examine patterns of unversal dress and variations by means of a cultural comparison.The patterns describe certain aspects of clothing behaviour that are consistent or repetitive.Each society builds its culture by making use of limited selections of patterns from these that are potentially available and rejects or ignores others.
The Draped Garment:It was the clothing of the ancient mediterrenean civilisations for example Egyptians,Greek and Roman culturse used not cut to fit rather drapped from a continuous length of cloth.
Farming which started about 6000-7000 BC man gradually perfecting techniques that enabled to take wool from sheep and the fibrous mat,from plants (flux) and twist them into long continous length of yarns.
The composite garment:The shang people of the East or orient developed a culture that was almost contemporary with the fully comparable to the great civilisation of the people of Egypt and Mesopotamia.They learnt to cultivate the silk worm and woven it's filaments into beautiful fabrics.
The original oriental costume was tailor-made ,thus cut,sewn to convey the effects of the draped garments through its straight hanging lines and loose sleenes (the kimano).
Modern clothing in western world is predominantly of the composite type that cut from woven cloth but shaped to conform to the contours of the body.
The national Dressing:The history of clothing show that a society can make their dress code which can be viewed as a symbol of their culture, nationality ,identity and beliefs.
National dress gives the sense of belonging .It is a way of dressing acceptable within the national societies.A person from one country can feel belong to a specific country when is outside own country.National dressing portays one's culture ,norms and values and follow what is accepted general by your society in terms especially on dressing.
When choosing clothes it is also wise to consider what is accepted by your society for example one has to cover the most essential parts of the body.
If a country doesn't have specific national dress .It create a lot of confusion ,disasters such that women can be raped.As was the case in Zimbabwe in late 1990s when women were beaten by hooligans for wearing mini skirts and a recent case in Sudan of a volunteer woman wear male trousers. Lack of true identification of sex roles because everyone will put on whatever s/he wants
National dress prevents the feelings of inferiority as everyone feels the same.The national dress avoids domestic violence ,sexual harassment and promotes sense of security ,unity among foreigners in a particular country and is an orientation of a particular group.
Therefore it is important to identify the clothing styles accepted in your society and conform to your wardrobe planning so that you have the sense of belonging.
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