About Pueblo Indian Dress

Pueblo Indian dress is as much a part of Native American history as the ancient culture itself. These influential people create garments using the available materials and with an eye for practicality. Their styles are dictated by the region's temperatures and offerings. Ancient Pueblos learned to survive with what their "Mother Earth" gave them and passed this skill on to other cultures.

History

Pueblo habitat courtesy of http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/pueblodetaos.html

One of the oldest known cultures in the United States, the Pueblo Indians descended from the Anasazi, residing in the Southwestern United States. Peaceful people, they interacted well with and influenced Spanish and later American settlers. As with many Native Americans, the Pueblo farmed and traded as a means of income and survival. They built adobe dwellings considered elaborate compared to other culture's establishments of that time. Pueblo Indian dress is functional for everyday with adornment reserved for special ceremonies.

Significance

Modern Pueblo Image from http://www.sarweb.org/embroidery/culture/culture.htm

The longevity of the Pueblo Indians and their peaceful interaction with others gave them a strong influence on other cultures. The Pueblo Indian dress and the construction of their homes prompted advancement in those areas. Preserving the Pueblo culture, including the Pueblo Indian dress, is a vital ingredient in American history.

Function

Pueblo Indian dress serves a practical purpose. As with many early tribes, their lives consist of hard work necessary for survival. Clothing is constructed and worn mainly to serve that purpose. Some more elaborate dresses and adornments are reserved for celebrations. Their clothing is representative of the available materials of their time and region.

Features

Pueblo Kilt image from http://www.sarweb.org/embroidery/design/kilts.htm

Pueblo Indian dress features articles made from wool, cotton, yucca, furs and feathers. Men dress in kilts with blankets gathered at the waist by braided sashes. Animals serve a dual purpose, providing food and furs for warm dress. Women wear dresses with one shoulder uncovered. Shawls and sashes are added as well as animal fur robes and boots. Moccasins reaching the ankle are worn by both men and women. Beads and other additions decorate clothing for celebrations.

Geography

Pueblo boys in breechcloth courtesy of http://www.native-languages.org/breechcloth.htm

Though their ancestors were nomadic, the Pueblos eventually settled and remained sedentary living primarily in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. The climates of this region affect the Pueblo Indian dress. The Pueblos ready themselves for scorching heat or cool nights. Garments are layered depending on temperature and could consist of merely a breechcloth or several layered blankets. The geography also dictates the materials available to make the Pueblo Indian dress as well as the adornments of their fancier celebration attire.