Clothing as Material Culture

In recent years social scientists have become increasingly interested in theories of fashion, but have rarely directly addressed the material qualities of clothing. By contrast, traditional studies of dress have focused on textiles but often neglect the larger cultural context within which dress becomes consumed as clothing. This book fills a major gap by combining these two ‘camps’ through an expressly material culture approach to clothing. In sustained case studies, Küchler and Miller argue that cloth and clothing are living, vibrant parts of culture and the body. From the recycling of cloth in Africa and India and the use of pattern in the Pacific, to the history of ‘wash and wear’ and why women wear the wrong clothes to restaurants in London, this book shows the considerable advantage gained by seamlessly combining material and social aspects of dress and textiles. This Book Puts The Material Back Into Clothing. In Recent Years Social Scientists Have Become Increasingly Interested In Theories Of Fashion, But Have Rarely Directly Addressed The Material Qualities Of Clothing. By Contrast, Traditional Studies Of Dress Have Focused On Textiles But Often Neglect The Larger Cultural Context Within Which Dress Becomes Consumed As Clothing. This Book Fills A Major Gap By Combining These Two 'camps' Through An Expressly Material Culture Approach To Clothing. In Sustained Case Studies, Kuchler And Miller Argue That Cloth And Clothing Are Living, Vibrant Parts Of Culture And The Body. From The Recycling Of Cloth In Africa And India And The Use Of Pattern In The Pacific, To The History Of 'wash And Wear' And Why Women Wear The Wrong Clothes To Restaurants In London, This Book Shows The Considerable Advantage Gained By Seamlessly Combining Material And Social Aspects Of Dress And Textiles. Introduction / Daniel Miller -- Looking Good, Feeling Right : Aesthetics Of The Self / Sophie Woodward -- The Other Half / Kaori O'connor -- Aesthetics, Ethics And Politics Of The Turkish Headscarf / Özlem Sandkc And Güliz Ger -- Cloth That Lies / Lucy Norris -- From Thrift To Fashion / Karen Tranberg Hansen -- Nga Aho Tipuna (ancestral Threads) / Amiria Henare -- Relative Imagery / Chloë Colchester -- Pattern, Efficacy And Enterprise / Graeme Were -- Why Are There Quilts In Polynesia? / Susanne Küchler. Edited By Susanne Küchler And Daniel Miller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The authors demonstrate the new possibilities for both anthropology and fashion studies in treating clothing and textiles as material culture.