Clothing Used in Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians lived in a desert climate where summers could be brutal and winters were, at worst, mild. This living situation, combined with available natural resources for producing clothing, defined the types of garments the ancient Egyptians wore. While Egyptians of a higher social rank wore more elaborately designed pieces, the majority of clothing was simple and made for comfort.

History

The earliest examples of Egyptian clothing reveal a fondness for simplicity and function, and this remained true for future centuries. Though production practices became more elaborate, and materials such as silk were sometimes incorporated as trade expanded, the Egyptian fashion style did not stray too far from one era to the next. Recovered artifacts such as sandals and tunics attest to the fact that, though clothing for royalty could be painstakingly constructed, the Egyptians vastly preferred coolness and comfort as opposed to overly-detailed, cumbersome garments.

Production

Clothing worn by the ancient Egyptians was made of linen, a lightweight cloth that is spun from flax. Though men harvested and beat the flax to produce thread, women were the traditional makers of clothing. The next step involved weaving the materials on a horizontal loom to produce linen cloth, a laborious process in which the maker had to crouch on the ground for extended periods of time. Sewing techniques and tools were still in development, so hemming was simple and draping was an effective, easy option.

Types

The most common articles of clothing for men of all social classes were kilts or tunics, while women wore simple dresses or wraps. Dyes were sometimes used for ceremonial garments, but the Egyptians, particularly the well-to-do, preferred sun-bleached linen. Ceremonial headdresses were reserved for the powerful, though wigs were considered an essential part of one's wardrobe (though they were expensive). Due to the heat, long hair was difficult to keep clean, and many Egyptians shaved or cropped their hair and wore wigs for social events. Children often went naked in the summer months.

Function

Ceremonial garments and clothing for the Egyptian ruling class were sometimes dyed in colors such as red, blue or yellow, and beads were often incorporated into necklines. However, most ancient depictions show kings wearing only a kilt and a crown. The peasant class had to make do with whatever they could afford or what wives and daughters could produce on their own. Fortunately, even the coarsest cut of linen cloth was cheap and lightweight, allowing relief from the heat and the sun for nearly every ancient Egyptian, though nudity wasn't frowned upon for laborers or children.

Cleaning and Mending

The ancient Egyptians were fastidious bathers, and members of the ruling class in particular expected their clothing to be as fresh as possible. Special workers hand-washed garments with lye and worked in teams to rinse and beat laundry. For those less fortunate, the water of the Nile had to suffice, though this could be dangerous---washing clothes on the banks of the river in the vicinity of crocodiles was a risky venture. Mending was left to the housewives, with surviving articles of clothing showing numerous patches and recycling.

References

• Ancient Egypt: Clothing
• Women's Clothing and Fashion In Ancient Egypt