Clothingis an integral part of human life. The primary role of the clothing is to forma layer(s) of barriers that protect the body against unsuitable physicalenvironment. This protection of body fulfills number of functions, likemaintaining the right thermal environment to the body, which is essential forits survival and preventing the body from being injured by abrasion, radiation,wind, electric, chemical and microbial substances. These traditionallyclassified functions of clothing clearly indicate that it plays a very vitalrole at the interface between human body and its surrounding environment indetermining the perception of comfort status of the wearer.

ORIGIN OF CLOTHING

Needof warmth for human being motivated the origin of clothing. During the pastparticularly in the middle ages, there has been a custom to cover the body withwoolen underclothes, particularly flannel, a loosely woven wool fabric.Moreover physicians also used to treat the patients of fever by overheatingthem through covering with feather and keeping the patient in thick woolengarment. Patient is relieved by profuse perspiration.

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This article was originally published in the Textile Review Magazine,October, 2012, published by Saket Projects Limited, Ahmedabad.

About the Authors:

DeeptiBhargava is a Ph.D. Scholar at the Dept. of Clothing and Textiles at College ofHome Science, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,Pantnagar, Uttrakhand

Dr. Manisha Gahlot is aProfessor at the Dept. of Clothing and Textiles at College of Home Science,Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar,Uttrakhand