Why did the Indians wear fringe on their clothes
Cinematic Indians are all dressed in trousers, jackets, shirts and moccasins with fringe. They have this piece of clothing literally everywhere and it seems that this is another template designed for the avid to the exotic philistine. But do not rush to conclusions, because this time the films do not lie. The Indians actually wore and still wear fringe on traditional clothes. What does it mean and how did it appear?
Fringe is more common among Indian tribes than among the peoples of Europe and Asia. Therefore, some even believe that it was brought to the Old World from overseas. But this version is untenable, since it is well known that the fringe was used all over the world even before America was officially opened.
But why do the Indians need fringe, is it really just as an ornament? There is an opinion that this element of the national costume carries a sacred meaning. But no one has been able to provide confirmation of this yet. To understand why Indians need fringe, you first need to figure out what it is.
Fringe is one of the simplest types of braid. Previously, the fringe on clothes, bedspreads, towels and curtains carried a purely utilitarian load. The fringe prevented the threads from unraveling, from which the fabric was woven, and therefore framed any thing made of textiles. Another purpose of the fringe is to hold the seam. Well, the third is the aesthetic side.
We can say that the fringe is a wonderful example of how a practical function has turned into a decorative one. Today, there are hundreds of ways to preserve the edge of the fabric or the integrity of the seam without this element. And with the Indians, everything is simple – when the first Europeans saw them, they still used very primitive methods of fabric production. Of course, not a single thing could do without fringe.
Later, the fringe was no longer needed, but clothes, horse harness and even weapons were specially decorated with it. Perhaps then there were some mystical explanations for such a decor. Maybe the Indians even believed that it protects against evil spirits or something like that.
Thanks to this, leather products were also decorated with fringe, which from the practical side never needed it. Although there is an opinion that it can still be useful, for example, helping to remove moisture from the skin faster after getting wet. There have also been cases when Indians sacrificed individual decorative elements to repair shoes or clothes.
Unfortunately, now Indians in traditional costumes can be found only on May 9. Why on this day? We will tell you in this report.