Saturday, December 03, 2022

History becomes more interesting

This is by a lady named Simonetta Gatto over on Bookface: 
WHEN SEAL FUR WAS USED AS UNDERWEAR

How did the indigenous women of the Arctic regions dress before the advent of modern low-temperature clothing? In skins, of course, with a special predilection for seal fur because it is airy and waterproof, preventing sweat from freezing up. And not just one layer, but several, making me wander how they managed to walk, never mind jump in and out of sledges or help build an itinerant home.

Those women lived in what today are North Scandinavia, Greenland, Siberia and North America, but they wore garments which are surprisingly similar: two crotch-high boots, a pair of short trousers, an inner vest or dress, sometimes a decorated apron, a cumbersome parka, and underwear. Of course, since their cultures were widely different, so were the details of their dress, each culture influenced by different artistic styles. This diversity is shown in the embroidery designs, accessories, apron shapes and sizes, button arrangements, and jacket lengths, which together form a fascinating insight into human ingenuity.



She says this one is from east Greenland.
Where it undoubtedly helped warm things up at night.

1 comment:

Sambo said...

DANG! I am liking that.