The Beginning of a Thesis

Throughout the process of picking a thesis topic, I knew generally what I wanted to study, but I was unsure how to make it mean something. I tried to structure my project and force meaning upon it. As I started my project, 

Throughout examining these gowns, I am struck with the amount they have been altered, but upon reading about the textile industry, I gain some clarity. It may seem obvious to say, but clothing was made by hand. The process of making a garment was laborious. It took time and resources that, especially in America, took time to acquire. The failure of the textile industry in America meant most textiles were imported, probably from England. These textiles then would have been transported by ship taking months to arrive. Then there’s the process of actually constructing the gown. For much of the 19th century, the average person did not have a sewing machine despite them having been invented. And if a person was wealthy enough to have bought a sewing machine, they certainly were wealthy enough to have their clothing made for them. I believe the historic garments that I am studying belonged to people from average income families, the everyday person. These gown have been taken apart and altered. They’ve had pieces added in. This shows their practicality, but also their value as a garment. Because of the amount of work it took to construct a garment, they were not disposed of easily like the way most people dispose of garments now. We get rid of garments that have holes, that have stains, that are too small. While in the 19th century, they repaired garments and wore them for years. In children’s clothing, they anticipated growth and would place in adjustable ties or growth tucks. Clothing was made to last, be worn for a significant part of a persons life, and then passed down. Clothing was made to last and its existence to this day proves its intended quality. 

There is value and art in handmade clothing. Perhaps that's something we can bring back from our ancestors, an awareness of textiles and making something beautiful and durable enough to be made over. I hope my project can bring us closer to the people that came before us so that we can understand them, learn from them, and hopefully take that information and apply it to our own lives to create a better future. 

 Added skirt panel for length.

Added side panel.

Some of my small patterns from the originals I'm studying.

Thank you to the Collection of Historic Dress at UVA

Collections Manager: Marcy Linton