The Apache wore traditional clothing made of buckskin, including loincloths, dresses, and shirts decorated with fringes, beads, and feathers. They also wore jewelry and painted their faces for ceremonies. As they came into contact with other cultures, their clothing began to change in the 1800s.
The Apache, a group of people indigenous to the North American Southwest and made up of at least six Indian tribes, wore a variety of traditional clothing prior to their contact with European cultures in the 1800s. Apache clothing for men typically included a loincloth or a flap, also known as a breech or breech. In warmer weather, this may be all they will wear, perhaps with a pair of moccasins or light sandals. When it got colder, men wore a long buckskin shirt, leggings, and headdresses made from leather. Apache clothing for women of the tribe included buckskin dresses and loose fringed shirts and skirts of various lengths. Both men and women will typically wear tall boot-like loafers in colder climates or sandals or lighter weight moccasins in warmer climates.
Apache clothing was mostly made of buckskin. These Native Americans used buckskin because it was readily available. It was also subtly tinted, helping to reflect the hot southwest sun. Shirts and dresses were also cut full and blouse-like, which helped keep the wearer cool. The sleeves of shirts and blouses typically were above the elbow to allow for freedom of movement. Traditional Apache clothing was both functional and decorative. The Apache Indians decorated their clothing with leather fringes, beads, porcupine quills, bird feathers, and berry-based dyes. The way the tribe decorated their clothing set them apart from other American Indians.
Both Apache men and women commonly wore their hair long and, for the most part, loose. Men sometimes used a leather or cloth headband around the circumference of the head. In colder climates, men typically used a buckskin cap, often heavily decorated. Women sometimes wore their hair in a loosely gathered bun. Women will often oil their hair to keep it shiny.
Women also wore jewelry such as earrings and necklaces. They wore belts of woven leather and metal. Men also wore jewelry, often made from shells. Both men and women painted their faces for special tribal events and ceremonies. Apache also made richly decorated leather bags and quivers as functional accessories.
As the Apache tribes came into contact with other indigenous peoples and European emigrants, their way of dressing changed. This started happening in the 1800s. After coming into contact with the Mexicans, many Apaches used the cloth to make cotton tunics, vests, and pants for men, while some women wore calico dresses and skirts.
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