A Look At The History Of Clothes And How It Has Evolved Over The Years

BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 10:  A model walks t...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The art of making clothes is old as history of mankind itself. The earliest clothes were nothing more than rudimentary pieces of cloth fixed at strategic points. Why did mankind proceed? Why not stop there? Well, man discovered it was essential to protect his body from cold, heat and rain when he went out hunting.

The same was the case for farmers as well. The lady of the house discovered that she had to keep her body protected to make sure insects and bugs did not make life miserable. From such basic and utilitarian objectives began the art of making clothes.

Today, the art of making clothes has become a multi trillion dollar industry. Each and every person on the plant requires at least one set of clothes. In fact, people seem to be satisfied at nothing less than 5 sets of basic clothes before they think of other necessities. Food, shelter and clothing form the most basic needs of mankind. Needless to say, this has created huge demand for clothes.

This is not the only reason for the high demand. Another important factor is the fact that the clothes have become a part of the fashion industry. Different sets of clothes can be worn in different ways. The overall effect on appearance of different types of clothes can be radically different.

In such a scenario, not only do people need clothes to cover their body but they also need it to look good. Ironically, wearing very little clothes too is a from of fashion. Over the years, we have made huge strides in the field of manufacturing clothes. There was a time when clothes were stitched. Today, they are manufactured in factories just as many other manmade products are manufactured. Human effort is still there but there are numerous technological innovations that has simplified the process.

Benefits Of Choosing Quality Designer Wear Over Ordinary Clothes

Black Wool Button Dress with Quilted Underskir...
Image by chwynyn via Flickr

People are very conscious about choosing original products in the world of fashion. To discover that one has been conned into using a spurious or fake can be very embarrassing. However, what makes it important to use originals is the quality involved.

A top notch designer who has manufactured original designer clothing will obviously focus a lot on quality. Would you want to spend a hundred dollars on a piece of cloth only to discover that it comes apart in the shortest time possible? The designer who makes such clothes will certainly lose market immediately.

There is no doubt that purchasing original designer wear is going to help you get good value for money. The price may be very high but the clothes that you buy will last for very long time and will help you use it for as long as you want.

The second factor involved in purchasing original designer clothing is the boast value. You have the option of boasting and gloating over the fact that you are in a position to afford original clothes.

The fact that designer wear often is exclusive and is designed specifically for a particular client gives you a sense of pride. Needless to say, you will never have to face the problem of discovering that another person has worn the same dress that you have. Since the dress you are wearing is designed only for you, there is no scope for any duplication.

So, what steps should you take to purchase originals? Try to get in touch with the designers directly. This was not very easy in the past especially where traveling over long distances just to purchase cloths did not make sense.

However, times have changed. Today, it is possible to buy clothes online without any difficulty or delays. You just have to charge a credit card and original designer wear will be on your doorstep without any difficulty.

How Were Clothes Made In The Past? What Developments Have Taken Place Till Date?

Traditional highland weavings, and woman using...
Image via Wikipedia

There is the huge difference between the manner in which clothes were made in the past and the manner in which they are made today. The earliest clothes were not made of cloth at all. Rather, the earliest clothes were manufactured out of the skin of animals. This was because protection from the elements was the primary reason why clothes were manufactured.

Humans living in hot conditions could manage without detailed and intricate clothing. However, those living in cold regions always wanted protection from the cold. This is the reason why warm clothing was manufactured first by using the skin of sheep and other such animals.

If mankind had to wear clothes and sit idle in caves, then perhaps no further innovation would have been necessary. However, men discovered that they had to wear clothes and carry out their daily routine activities.

The same was true for women who stayed back at home to take care of the kids. This led to further innovations and modifications. Clothes had to be very easy to use. Further, they had to be long lasting.

Thirdly, they had to provide complete protection from the elements. This requirement was very important. Fourthly, clothes were considered an added bonus if they made the wearer look good.

This formed the basic parameters of stitching clothes. Even today, we look at all these aspects and factors when we are selecting clothes. If the clothing does not fit us properly, we reject it despite its many other advantages. If it restricts us from doing our daily activities, it is rejected immediately.

Of course, there is a huge difference in the clothes manufactured today and the clothes that were made in the past. For starters, we have more variety as far as the fabrics are concerned. We no longer are very dependent on the skin of animals. We can even make synthetic fabrics that will possess the necessary characteristics as we desire.

The Watch Is Here To Stay – or is it?

My watch
Image via Wikipedia

With today’s technology advancing at alarming rates it is hard to stay on top of developments. A laptop over four years old is almost obsolete so where does that put the good old fashioned watch?  Will watches die an unnatural death with cellphones taking over as the timepiece of choice?

The watch has an interesting history.  From artistically designed fine works of art to the cheap throw-away digital variety, watches have stood the test of time and I believe they are here to stay. There is a change however from the fifties where a watch was simply a timepiece and nothing more to today where the watch is multifunctional and serves as fashion statement as well as an indication of our success and life style.

Today people are very selective in their watches.  It must make a statement, show attitude and sophistication as well as tell the time flawlessly.  With the move to go green and re-use and re-cycle, people would prefer a good quality watch with different interchangeable straps and faces to mix and match with accessories than than have a number of different watches.  It means that the while the mass production of the cheap $15 watch may see a decline, high quality works of art like Michele Watches will not.

Michele Watches are committed to providing excellence. They know that their discerning customer wants flair and fashion combined with functionality and perfection.  They cater to a wide market, from the upwardly mobile and successful to the sports fanatic and the fashion conscious.  Time honoured masterpieces, Michele Watches will not go out of fashion due to advancements in technology.  There is something to be said for tried and tested timepieces of the past.  Comforting and reliable, they are an outlet for self expression and no techno gadget is going to replace that.

Latest Development In Manufacturing Clothes – Assembly Line Model Rules

REUTLINGEN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 17:  A student ...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

What are the latest technologies being used to make clothes? How has technology simplified the process of making clothes? Well, the entire process has been computerized. Clothes are not manufactured according to specific measurements of individuals. Rather, it is made by following the assembly line model.

The average measurement of an individual of specific age, height and weight is ascertained and clothes are manufactured accordingly. Customers walk into stores but do not offer their measurement for stitching clothes. Rather, they check out ready made clothes pre-stitched for their size. Of course, not all clothes will fit equally well.

However, an average individual will easily enjoy a good fit. The biggest advantage with this process is that clothes are made in advance and individuals can buy them at their leisure. This has drastically changed the manner in which clothes were purchased.

Earlier, clothes had to be stitched after giving the measurement. This often delayed and complicated the process. In any case, it was impossible to make machine to run the process. To adjust a machine making 42 inches shirt to a size L T shirt is just not possible. However, to create two machines and assigning a task to each a specific machine is technically feasible.

The readymade revolution has the completely changed the fashion design industry. As on date,  designers can create patterns and offer the same for the customers in advance. Depending on the demand and reaction of the customers, the design can be called a success or failure.

Of course, the original concept of contacting designers personally still exists. However, it is an option that is no longer mandatory. That is to say, people who insist on dealing with exclusive designers and are ready to pay for it can opt for such a solution. Others can simply buy ready made clothes.

Tech & Automation Offer Many Benefits. Can Fashion Industry Skip Manual Labor Altogether?

Toritama produces 15% of the Brazilian jeans
Image via Wikipedia

There was a time when an individual wearing a loose fitting pair of jeans would be advised to visit the nearest tailoring outlet and get the same repaired as early as possible. Today, extremely low waist genes that show all that should not be shown have become a fashion trend. Designers enjoy more options because it is possible to alter the fabric in many different ways without incurring heavy expenditure or facing any complications.

For example, the fabric can be scuffed to make it look as if it is very old. Denim companies have come up with such jeans that makes the individual look as if he or she has owned the pair for a long time. In the same way, students prefer those jeans that have cuts at strategy points near their knee joint and thighs. All this has become a part of fashion trend even if it serves no utilitarian purpose whatsoever.

All this has become possible only because of improvements in stitching technology. The entire process can be completed without any adverse impact on quality of the fabric. In the past, expecting a tailored to stitch worn and scruffy clothes would obviously affect the finish. Today, this is not a problem at all.

Cutting the fabric in the right manner and stitching it has become very simple. With more and more about technology and automation being introduced into the process, loss of jobs is inevitable. Can the fashion industry survive without its foot soldiers? This is a very important question that only time will answer.

One just has to wait and see whether machines have the capacity of recreating each and every design that the human brain is capable of thinking. Until that is proved beyond doubt, there is no scope of fashion and stitching becoming a less labor intensive business.

Are All Those Involved In The Fashion Industry Called Designers? Definitely Not

Anna Wintour at New York's Fall Fashion Week, 2005
Image via Wikipedia

The fashion industry is a very big industry encompassing not just designers but various other individuals who have absolutely zero creativity or designing skills. There are executives who arrange events where products made by fashion designers are showcased and launched. They work like event managers and try to market the product in the most attractive manner possible.

Those who coordinate release of information with various media agencies including online sources have a job no different than the media manager of any big organization. Hence, it is not compulsory for you to be a fashion designer to enjoy a career in the fashion industry.

While your fashion sense may not be as bad as Anna Hathway in The Devil Wears Prada, you certainly do not need a high level of appreciation of fashion as long as you can do your job properly.

If such jobs do not appeal and if you want to become a designer, the best way to improve your skills is to join a fashion designers as an apprentice. It is important to make your choice wisely. Some persons are of the opinion that signing up as an apprentice in a big firm is the best way to get maximum exposure. However, others feel that working as an apprentice in a smaller firm makes more sense. In a big firm, you are a nameless and faceless employee.

On the other hand, working with a small house may result in lower exposure to the world of celebrities but will offer improved chances of learning more. Your decision should be based on the level of exposure you require. If you want more exposure to the glamorous aspect of the business, then you should prefer working with big shots. On the other hand, if you want to sharpen your basics, then working with a small house is not a bad idea.

How Process of Making Clothes Has Evolved– More Accessories, Longer Life And More Options

Valentino - 45 Years of Style, Ara Pacis Augustae
Image via Wikipedia

A very significant difference between the manner in which clothes were made in the past and the manner in which they made today is the use of accessories and ornamental objects in the attire itself. Earlier, clothes were worn primarily to protect the body from harm. As far as beauty was concerned, people relied more on jewelry and other such objects.

However, we have dresses that comes embossed with various ornaments and designs. Clothes are no longer all about utility. We wear clothes because it makes us look good. In such a scenario, designers have come up with various alternatives and solutions to make the individual look good. This has obviously had a major impact on the manner in which clothes are stitched.

Firstly, no longer do we restrict ourselves to cotton and wool. We use silk, satin, rayon and even paper, cardboard and wood in clothes. Secondly, we have different clothes with different accessories that have to be maintained differently. This has affected the manner in which such clothes were designed. Thirdly, accessories have been categorized and are used with specific attires to create a specific impact.

A cravat is a formal accessory while a scarf can be used in casual settings as well. A neck scarf is different as compared to on which sits on the shoulders. Fashion industry thrives on making smart use of accessories. From different scarves to use of diamonds in clothes – there are many options and customizations available.

Improvement in process of making clothes is not restricted to aesthetics alone. It has helped make clothes stronger and last longer. A set that is properly maintained can last a long time and can be worn with different accessories. Tears can be repaired and even discoloration can be repaired by dyeing the dress or set again.

Quality Threads – A Very Essential Requirement For Evolution Of Stitching Methods

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI - FEBRUARY 19:  Cantain ...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The invention of strong and good quality threads had a huge impact on the manner in which clothes are made. The earliest threads were organic in nature. People used leaves and bark that had been cut in very fine strips.

The basic function of the thread was to hold the clothes together to the maximum extent possible. Since bark was available very easily, breakage was not an issue. People could always stitch the clothes together again using bark or leaves from trees around them. This might have worked in the past but it cannot work today. Can you imagine civilized society today if each and every person were to walk around fearing that his or her dress may fall apart any moment?

Threads used to hold clothes together had to be very strong and yet had to be very fine and thin. A big thread would automatically be visible and would spoil the show. Thick threads cause bigger indentation during stitching. This will affect the overall life and quality of the cloth.

Unless one intends to showcase threads in a clear manner, it is understood that threads shall remain on the inside and hold the attire together without being very obvious. In such a scenario, creating thin but very strong thread became an imperative requirement of stitching.

Invention of sewing machine made it essential for threads to withstand high speed stitching processes. The needle moves in and out of the fabric at very high speeds. Further, the mechanism is such that the cloth is moved in the desired direction automatically.

The thread had to not just withstand impact but also sustain its strength over long durations. The clothes that are used are washed on an almost daily basis. Threads have to be strong enough to withstand the chemicals used to clean the attire. Stitching processes evolved only because better threads were manufactured.