Clothing

Clothing, also known as clothes, garments, dress, apparel, or attire, is any item worn on the human body. It is usually made of fabrics or textiles, but sometimes it can be made from things like animal skin or other thin natural materials. Almost everyone wears clothing, and it is part of every human society. The amount and type of clothing people wear can depend on many things, such as gender, body type, social factors, and where they live.

Clothing has many important purposes. It can protect us from harsh weather, rough surfaces, sharp objects, and tiny insects that might bite. It helps keep us warm in cold places and cool in hot places. Clothing also keeps us clean and healthy by creating a barrier between our skin and things that might make us sick. Special clothing, like footwear for our feet or gloves for our hands, helps us stay safe and comfortable in different places.

Clothing also has social meanings. In many places, wearing clothes in public is expected, and not doing so might make people feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Different kinds of clothing can show a person's status, wealth, group identity, or personal style. Overall, clothing is not just about staying safe and healthy—it also helps us express who we are and connect with others.

Origin and history

Main article: History of clothing and textiles

See also: History of Western fashion, Category:History of clothing, and Evolution of hair

Early use

People have worn clothes for a very long time—maybe as far back as 40,000 to 3 million years ago! One clue comes from tiny insects called lice that live on humans. These lice can only survive when humans wear clothes, so scientists think people started wearing clothes around the same time these lice began living on us.

Archaeologists have found clues like old needles and bits of cloth that show how people made clothes long ago. The oldest known piece of woven clothing is a very old linen garment.

Making clothing

See also: Clothing industry, knitting, and weaving

Different cultures have made clothes in many ways. Some people used animal skins to stay warm, while others used plant fibers like wool, linen, and cotton to make textiles. Making cloth by hand was hard work, but it changed a lot during the Industrial Revolution when machines began to help.

People have made clothes by wrapping cloth around their bodies, like the dhoti and sari, or by cutting and sewing cloth into shapes that fit. Over time, many different styles of clothing have been created, and these old styles sometimes inspire new fashion designs today.

Clothing as comfort

Clothing helps us feel good, just like food does. It makes us look nice, feel comfortable, and stay at the right temperature.

When we look at clothes, things like their color, how they are made, and how they fit make us feel good and help us fit in with others.

Clothes help keep our body at a good temperature. They balance heat and moisture so we don’t get too hot or too cold. Different fabrics work better in different places. Some let air through and absorb moisture, while others block moisture. Choosing the right fabric for the weather is important. The best temperature for our skin is between 28 and 30 °C (82 and 86 °F). When it’s hotter or colder than this, we feel uncomfortable.

Clothing also helps keep us from feeling damp or uncomfortable from sweat. If too much of our body gets wet, we feel uncomfortable.

How clothes feel against our skin matters a lot. Soft, smooth fabrics feel better than rough or itchy ones. Some fabrics, like fleece, feel especially nice. How tight or loose the clothes are and how heavy or light they are also affect how comfortable they feel.

Functions

Clothing keeps us safe from weather and other things that might hurt us. It helps us stay warm when it is cold and cool when it is hot. In sunny places, clothing can help stop sunburn. When we go inside a warm building, we often take off extra layers like coats, hats, and gloves.

People make clothing from many materials, such as leather, animal skins, woven fabrics, and special man-made materials. Not everything we wear is clothing. For example, things we carry, like handbags, or wear just for decoration, like jewelry, are not clothing. Clothing is meant to protect and cover our bodies.

Clothing also helps us stay safe during some activities or in special places. For example, some clothes protect us from insects or the sun’s strong rays. There are special clothes for extreme places, like space suits for astronauts or armor for protection in dangerous situations. The way we dress can show important things about ourselves, like our job, our culture, or how we want to express ourselves.

Scholarship

Clothing is a big topic that scientists and historians study a lot. In the 1800s, when European countries explored new places, they wrote books about clothing and why we wear it. Important books like Psychology of Clothes by J.C. Flügel in 1930 and Physiology of Heat Regulation and The Science of Clothing by Newburgh in 1949 helped people learn how clothing keeps us comfortable. These books are still useful today.

Historians also look at old clothes to learn about the past. They study what people wore and how styles changed. Many old clothes made from fabrics or animal skins break down over time, so it can be hard to study them. Special collections usually keep only the most important or unique clothes, so everyday clothing can be difficult to learn about.

Cultural aspects

Clothing often shows a person's role, gender, or culture. It helps express big ideas and values in society.

In many places, clothes are different for boys and girls. For example, in some countries, girls might wear skirts or dresses, while boys might wear trousers. But today, both boys and girls can wear many of the same kinds of clothes. Some clothes, like T-shirts, were once only for boys but now everyone can wear them.

In the past, people used fancy clothes to show they were rich or important. For example, in ancient Rome, only important leaders could wear special purple dye. Even today, some people show their status with expensive or special clothes.

Some religions have special clothes too. For example, Buddhist monks wear special robes, and Sikh people wear turbans as part of their faith. These clothes help show that someone belongs to a certain religion.

Different cultures have their own special clothes. For example, in India, people might wear a sherwani for weddings, while in Scotland, people might wear a kilt. These clothes help show where someone comes from and what they believe.

Contemporary clothing

The Western dress code has changed a lot over the past 500+ years. Machines made making cloth easier, so more people could afford nice clothes. New fabrics and styles appeared, and blue jeans became popular for many occasions. Activewear is now a big part of clothing too.

Western styles have spread around the world. This started long ago when European countries expanded their influence. Today, Western media and companies help share these styles everywhere. Cheap, mass-produced clothes and donated used clothing from Western countries help people in many places get dressed.

People often wear clothes that remind them of their culture on special days. For example, many Koreans wear traditional hanboks for weddings and holidays, even though they usually wear Western-style clothes every day. Different cultures mix their own styles with Western clothes in unique ways.

For sports and activities, special clothing helps keep people comfortable and safe. Common sportswear includes shorts, T-shirts, and tennis shirts. There are also special clothes for activities like swimming, skiing, and gymnastics.

Fashion changes all the time. In the early 1900s, Paris led the way in setting trends for Europe and North America. Today, fashion varies widely depending on where you live and what you can afford, from very fancy designs to clothes from thrift stores. Fashion shows let designers show off their newest ideas.

Political issues

Working conditions in the garments industry

Even though machines have changed many parts of making clothes, workers in factories still have hard jobs that need the same moves over and over. Often, clothes are made in places where workers have long hours, no extra help, and no say in decisions. While many of these places are in countries that are still growing, clothes made in bigger countries can also be made this way.

Groups of people who care, designers, and unions have worked together to try to make these jobs better. They hold events to get attention and tell people about the workers' situation.

Fur

Main article: Fur clothing

People have used animal fur for clothes for a very long time. Today, some people in cold places still use fur to stay warm, but in richer countries, fur is often used for fancy clothes. Recently, some people have said that using fur is not kind to animals.

Groups that care about animals have spoken out about how fur is gotten from animals. Some big fashion shows have stopped using real fur because of protests. Some famous clothing brands have also decided not to use fur anymore.

Some places have made rules to stop selling new clothes made from real fur. Israel was the first country to do this in 2021. In 2019, California decided to stop selling most new fur clothes, with this rule starting in 2023.

Life cycle

Clothing can get dirty from our bodies and from the world around us. Our bodies shed skin and oils, and we sweat, which can soil clothes. Outside, the sun, moisture, and dirt can also damage clothing. Without cleaning, clothes become worn and may lose their shape or function.

People have many ways to clean clothes, from rubbing them on rocks in streams to using modern washing machines and special cleaning methods. Some clothes need to be pressed with an iron to look neat, while others are made to stay smooth without ironing. After cleaning, clothes are often hung or folded to keep them fresh.

When clothes get torn, some people fix them by sewing, darning, or adding new buttons and zippers. Used clothes can also be recycled into things like quilts, rags, or paper. In many places, old clothes are donated, sold, or sent to other countries where they can be reused.

Global trade

Countries in the European Union bought and sold lots of clothes in 2018. They bought €166 billion worth of clothes, and most of this came from outside their group of countries. They sold €116 billion worth of clothes, mostly to each other.

A report by the World Trade Organization says that the value of clothes sold around the world was US$790.1 billion in 2022. China sold the most clothes, with US$178.4 billion. Other top sellers were Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and Turkey.

Selling clothes is very important for Vietnam. In 2022, they sold US$39.8 billion worth of clothes, and much of this went to the United States and the EU.