The Curious Life of the Scarf
A long piece of fabric worn around the neck. The scarf is so simple it barely seems to need a history. It has one anyway, and it turns out to be more interesting than expected.
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Tag: clothing
A tag trail for following one thread of thought wherever it wants to wander.
What If the Zipper Had Never Been Invented?
The zip fastener is so embedded in everyday clothing that imagining its absence requires real effort. A small counterfactual about speed, function, and the aesthetics of fastening.
The Hat and Its Long Life as a Social Signal
For most of recorded history, what you wore on your head told everyone around you exactly who you were. Then, in about forty years, the hat almost disappeared. What happened?
A Brief History of Gloves
Gloves have covered the hands of pharaohs, falconers, surgeons, racing drivers, and fashion editors. The story of this single accessory passes through almost every corner of history.
The Hidden History of the Pocket
The pocket seems like the most obvious feature a garment could have. It wasn’t always there — and its absence shaped the lives of half the population for centuries.