Figure 1.--Despite the million of Etruscans, Greeks, and especially Romans who wore togas, virtually non have survived the ages. The only one we know of this very simple linen toga. It is held in the Danish National Museum in Coopenhagen. It is believed to date from the 2nd-4th century AD when Egypy was a Roman priovince. The simplicity probably reflect the warm Egyptian climate. It was discovered on a mummy in Egypt. Unlike Italy, the arid conditions of the Egyptian desert preserved it.

Ancient people tended to wear wrap garments while modern people tend to wear more practical fitted garments. . This was because it was much less complicated to weave a single piece of clothing that the wearer coup wrap around their bodies. Fitted garment required weaving different pieces that were then stitched together. This was much more expensive to produce. And in ancient times when most of the population was poor, cost was a huge issue. Clothing was much more expensive in real terms than is the case today. The best known wrap garment was the Roman toga which came to have huge status implication, but many Romans wore togas, although not the long ones done in fine material like the elite. While a major style and worn by multitudes, almost none have survived the ages. They are mostly known by artistic depictiions and written records. Wrap garments are still worn today and some have become a kind of national garment. Of great national significance are the Japanese kimono and Indian sari. They kimono can be worn by men and women. The sari is worn by women. Both have survived into the modern era and can be very expensive. There are also wrap garments still worn by poor people such as the lungi in Bangladesh and India--in this case worn by men.

Created: 3:16 PM 4/30/2024
Last edited: 3:17 PM 4/30/2024