The artifact I chose comes from the Children’s War exhibit, more towards the back in the quick area on food rationing, showing how people had to conserve fabrics and materials and had to make their clothes out of old garments and reuse fabrics or material from other items. I was very interested in this exhibit section since I have a minor in fashion and because I’ve never really heard about how they had to ration/save clothing, though it should be a given. The focus is usually on how they had to ration food or luxuries like silk stockings, but I forgot about how material and clothing we take for granted were scarce too. In the photo I took above, each garment was made out of an item or fabric that was something completely different.
The cape on the right hand side was made out of an old felt blanket and (you can’t tell in the photo) the trimming on the coat was just painted on with what looked like red paint. The dress on the left hand side was actually made out of old cloth maps that had been provided to the citizens. I thought it was actually a great idea to make garments by reusing materials especially since now a-days the focus is on being green and recycling. It would be great if people were crafty enough now as well to make garments out of unused materials. The little boys outfit in the middle was featured in a propaganda advertisement on the wall nearby showing how people needed to make their child’s outfit last for a couple of years by making the outfit roomy. It showed an example of a boy’s short jumper could fit a boy of say eight but then also fit him in five years while he’s taller as well (though it kind of looked ridiculous on the much taller older boy).
Good choice Gabby. I find it hard to believe what both children and adults went through during the war, from their own safety to their food to their clothing all being unstable for so many years. I agree that it would be great if we could actually use most products and not waste. We seem to be good at that when it comes to paper and plastic goods, but if we could also turn this to clothing that would save that much more. Learning about the war and what Londoners went through really makes you appreciate what you have/had, including clothes for every year!!
ReplyDeleteits crazy to even start thinking about how life is during war. We really do take so much for granted and seeing that exhibit in the museum was intense. It is sad that it takes a horrible situation to force us to appreciate 'every day' things like our clothes- food- shelter, etc.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and I appreciate the photo too :) I think it's really impressive how they were able to really stretch the resources they had and make them last for years. That takes some skill and determination...although in our modern times we try to be 'green', with all the technology we have, it seems we have a lot to learn from the people who had less then us years ago.
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