Clothing : A Social History

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• Summary

Changes were made possible in Britain due to the introduction of new materials and technologies. Other changes came about because of the two world wars and the new working conditions for women.

1. Before the 17th-century clothes for British women were made of flax, wool, linen which were expensive and difficult to maintain.
2. During the 17th century, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution cloth and clothes saw a change. The attractive, cheap ‘chintzes’ from India increased the volume of European women’s wardrobes.
3. Artificial fibres used in cloth made dresses even easier to maintain. Now with great demand for comfortable dresses, styles changed considerably.

4. Changes in women’s clothing came about as a result of the two World wars.

5. Styles reflected seriousness and professionalism. Skirts became shorter and plainer.

6. Women who worked in factories wore uniforms. Trousers became an accepted and vital part of women’s dress.

7. New schools for children emphasised the importance of plain dressing and discouraged ornamentation.

8. The school curriculum also emphasised and included games and gymnastics as part of the curriculum. This also changed the way women dressed.

During the colonial period, there were significant changes in male and female clothing in India.

When western-style clothing came into India in the nineteenth century, Indians reacted in three different ways:

1. Many men began to incorporate western style clothing in their dress.
2. Many felt that western influence would lead to loss of traditional cultural identity.
3. Many wore western clothes without giving up Indian ones.