Clothing
Prior to the nineteenth century, most Native American clothing west of the Mississippi was basic in form and function. It was generally unadorned except for special ceremonial wear. With the increased availability of commercial cloth, through trade or purchase, a larger assortment of styles and decoration appeared.
In the nineteenth century, Indigenous artisans began creating outfits from commercial cloth and clothing, including tailored dresses, shirts, and trousers. They were often made with matching accessories such as leggings, moccasins, and vests.
By the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, artisans used various materials to embellish clothing beyond traditional glass beads and porcupine quills. This included coins, tin cones, silk ribbon, sequins, commercial buttons, silver conchos (or conchas in Spanish) and many other items.
Today, this tradition lives on with pow wow and dance regalia incorporating ever brighter colors, commercial dyes, and modern motifs.
Objects
![Dress, Cape, and Shirt](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2000.37.080-scaled.jpg)
Dress, Cape, and Shirt
Southwest, Apache
![Vest](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1982.27.16-front-scaled.jpg)
Vest
Plateau
![Pow Wow Dress](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2022.17.jpeg)
Pow Wow Dress
Ruby McArthur
Northern Plains, Cree/Nakoda
![Woman’s Wedding Outfit](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2008.08.jpeg)
Woman’s Wedding Outfit
Central Plains, Osage
![Vest](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2002.154.3-front.jpg)
Vest
Northern Plains
![Dress](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1983.6.38.01-1-scaled.jpg)
Dress
Northern Pains, Lakota
![Breechcloth](/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Breechcloth.jpg)
Breechcloth
Southern Plains
![Elk’s Tooth Dress](/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1983.06.13.jpg)
Elk’s Tooth Dress
Northern Plains, Crow (Apsàalooke)
![Deer Dance Kilt](/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1979.10.68.jpg)
Deer Dance Kilt
Southwest, Hopi Pueblo