Purpose of Clothing


The primary purposes of clothing are to conceal our bodies, enhance our appearance, and communicate our intentions. There are, for instance, sportswear, formal attire, party wear, and casual wear. We wear clothing for a variety of purposes, including comfort and protection. Because of societal or psychological factors, we choose certain clothing. Clothing can reveal a lot about a person, in that it partially reveals their personality. Additionally, we have clothing depending on many countries, castes, creeds, and religions. Some of the most fundamental and crucial necessities of mankind include clothing, food, and shelter. Everybody’s life includes intricate but fascinating aspects of clothing.

Purposes

Following are some of the major purpose of wearing cloth -

Protection

The first and most crucial purpose of clothes is that they shield us from the sun, cold, wind, and rain. As we all know, extreme weather can have an impact on our skin and bodies. Since our skin is exposed and vulnerable, strong weather conditions, like a hurricane, can easily harm it. Too much light can brown our skin, and too much cold can cause it to become irritated and cracked. We must thus safeguard ourselves against such circumstances. It serves as a barrier between your body and unintentional burns, scrapes, and abrasive surfaces while also absorbing sweat and preventing unexpected colds. Your body can be protected from excessively hot or cold weather with the correct clothing. While nomads in desert regions shield themselves from the blazing sun from dehydrating their bodies by covering up with long flowing robes and headdresses, people who live in extreme cold climates wear heavy coats made of fur in order to retain their bodies and thus withstand the harsh weather. Human skin is protected by clothing from damage or injury. For safety reasons, certain sports and professions demand protective attire. Football players protect themselves from harm during violent play by donning helmets and padding. Some people must work in hazardous or dangerous environments. Protection may come from clothing. Even some things are marked with the word “safety” to distinguish them from common clothing and accessories.

Adornment

An accessory or piece of jewellery worn to accentuate the wearer’s beauty or status is typically referred to as an “adornment.” They are frequently worn to define cultural, social, or religious standing within a particular society as well as to adorn, enhance, or distinguish the wearer. Throughout history, various portions of the human body have been adorned with various types of apparel, textiles, and jewellery. However, each element’s design conveys nuanced information about the user and their position within a social group beyond the desire to praise beauty and ingenuity. Each person tries to dress themselves in a certain style of clothing, jewellery, and cosmetics to enhance their looks and personality since everyone loves to look nice. Depending on the circumstances, we dress ourselves. This style of clothing reveals a lot about the wearer. Additionally, decoration and adornment allow individuals to exhibit their individuality and ingenuity. Certain professions or educational institutions have predetermined fashion standards that prohibit wearing the same style in a different colour. For instance, the uniforms worn by the Navy or the Army These colours and styles have been popular for a very long time and are still popular now. For instance, Catholic brides generally don white gowns for significant occasions, so many people dress in distinctive styles and hues.

Ritualistic

Religious clothing includes both what worshippers wear inside and outside of a place of worship, not just what a prayer leader wears. Religious organisations establish dress standards to outwardly emphasise morality and modesty while subtly regulating sexuality. Fundamentally, dress codes are more about the control of the body by the more powerful church members who uphold their groups’ ideas than they are about clothing. It consists of vestments, robes, and other religious attire, as well as clerical attire like cassocks. Hats, wedding bands, crucifixes, and other accessories are examples. The prehistoric man thought that particular clothes may bestow unique abilities and would shield him from harm. The hunter occasionally believed that displaying horns and hooves might convey an animal’s admirable traits. The wearing of garments to fend off the evil eye dates back to ancient times. They thought that magic was the only thing that could defeat the evil powers present. Ritualistic attire also demonstrates modesty. Modesty refers to how people believe that the body should be covered by clothing. Modesty standards might vary among different social groupings. For instance, clothing that a woman could choose to wear to a formal event would likely be inappropriate for work the following day.

Identification

People can be identified as belonging to a group by their clothing. Certain organisations, activities, and jobs have come to be associated with particular styles of clothing, colours, and accessories. People might also demonstrate their group affiliation by just dressing alike. Examples include pilots, doctors, and air hostesses. One of the simplest ways to recognise group members is by their outfit. Uniforms can aid in quick identification or project a unique image of the group. Uniformed members of the military, police force, and fire department can be easily identified for the sake of public safety. Athletic teams distinguish themselves from their opponents by donning distinctive colours. Service industry employees, like those who work in restaurants, on aeroplanes, and in hotels, also don distinctive uniforms. These uniforms assist in establishing a brand for the organisation and helping clients recognise the employee. Status can also be indicated through clothing. Clothing or other objects that convey a sense of status to the average person are known as status symbols. These things are typically more expensive or of the newest design. Fur coats, pricey jewellery, or fashionable clothing may serve as status signals for some people. Emblems or badges that demonstrate membership in a group On the pockets of a jacket or a blazer, patches or symbols may be worn. To show that one is an athlete, a school letter and a sports pin might be worn on a jacket or sweater.

Conclusion

Every person has fundamental necessities. Fulfilling these requirements makes life satisfying and enjoyable. Some of these demands are met in part by clothing. Clothing helps to interact with other individuals, to cover the body, and to make you feel more appealing. For a variety of reasons, people wear clothing. Physical factors are among these causes. You dress yourself for comfort and security. Some are social and psychological in nature. You can express your personality and gain confidence through your clothing. You can relate to other people better by wearing clothes. Understanding the function of clothing can improve your understanding of yourself and other people. In concluding words, attitudes, preferences, and motivations affect consumer behaviour, and it is up to businesses to make every effort to comprehend as much as possible about what consumers are thinking in order to satisfy them with a service and a product that are tailored to their needs.

Updated on: 20-Dec-2022

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