Luca Fratarcangeli 7B

Annunciation School November 29, 2014

COLONIAL DRESS

Clothing was a vital part of the American culture and history. Many

people from the early colonies arrived with just what they had on their back.

Clothing became a main factor in their culture. These early settlers became

very resourceful with all of the materials that were available for them.

The Native Americans clothing was different depending on the tribe

and the climate where they lived. The primary material used by Native

Americans in their clothing was made from animal hides. The natives used the

hides of the animals they hunted for food. Many tribes such as the Cherokee

and the Iroquois used deerskin. While the Plain Indians, who were bison

hunters, used buffalo skin. The Inuit tribe, who were from Alaska, used seal

skin. Some tribes also learned to make clothing from plants or by weaving

thread. All clothes were mainly made by hand. The women made all of the

clothing. The early settlers made their own clothing from woolen and linen

cloth. The long dresses that the women and girls wore were made from skins

of animals, these skins were made into leather. Coats, shoes, hats, and men’s

pants were some of the items made from the leather. Old worn out clothes

were used for making patchwork quilts and rugs for

their homes.

Clothing was an essential part in the New England colonies. The type of

clothing represented your station of life. For example, wealthy women wore

satin gowns. The middle class was different. The men in the middle class wore

real simple clothing, unlike the upper class ladies. A linen shirt and a doublet

was their main dress attire. The men also wore breeches, also known as pants.

In the Southern colonies, women wore petticoats and dresses. Men and boys

wore breeches, a shirt and a hat. The clothing in the Southern colonies said a

lot