| The human race universally wears articles of | | | | But people wear clothing for functional as |
| clothing-also known as dress, garments, or | | | | well as social reasons. Apart from the |
| attire-on the body in order to protect it | | | | practical functions of placing a piece of |
| against the adverse climate conditions. In | | | | garment above the skin, wearing clothes also |
| its broadest sense, clothing is defined as | | | | carries specific cultural and social |
| the coverings of the torso and limbs, as well | | | | meanings. In numerous cultures, for instance, |
| as the coverings for the hands, feet and | | | | it is bad sight to show to others parts of |
| head. Articles carried rather than worn, such | | | | the human body anatomy and particularly the |
| as purses, are usually counted as | | | | genitals. Thus, clothes serve as a method to |
| accessories, while glasses or jewelry, | | | | hide from the rest of the world the |
| although worn, also fit this category. On the | | | | particular areas of a person's body. |
| other hand, the body's decoration with | | | | Religion, customs and of course, particular |
| tattoos, make-up and hairstyle, although | | | | historically important circumstances have |
| contributes to the general message an | | | | shaped the way different people in various |
| individuals want to relay in addition to his | | | | times feel about clothing and exposure. |
| or her clothing choices, do not constitute | | | | Moreover, clothing has been regarded as one |
| clothing as such. | | | | of the best ways to distinguish social |
| | | | classes, sexes, occupation, marital status |
| In most cultures, clothing was introduced as | | | | and ethnic or religious affiliation. But in |
| a method of protecting the human body against | | | | order to interpret correctly the messages a |
| extreme weather conditions -strong winds, | | | | particular set of clothes may transmit to |
| intense heat, cold and precipitation. In | | | | others, one has to be familiar with the |
| particular, the weaves of clothes prevent the | | | | translation of the specific code. Wearing |
| circulation of air around the skin and thus, | | | | white during a western funeral for example is |
| avoid the exit of the air reheated by the | | | | highly inappropriate, while eastern societies |
| skin, which makes people feel uncomfortable | | | | endorse such a color selection for mourning |
| and cold. Additionally, the clear weaves of | | | | people. |
| clothing avoid the ultraviolet radiation of | | | | |
| the sun and the burns in the skin, protecting | | | | Today, there are many materials with which |
| it, therefore, from the heat. Finally, more | | | | clothes are made. A person can choose from |
| impermeable weaves protect the human body | | | | purchasing clothes made from natural origin |
| from coming into contact with the water of | | | | materials, like silk, wool, and leather, but |
| rain or snow. Since water is an excellent | | | | may also select one for the man-made fibers |
| thermal storage cell, when the cold rain | | | | extensively used in clothes manufacturing, |
| drops of snow flakes fall and touch the human | | | | like nylon, polyester, Lycra and Gore-Tex. |
| skin, they immediately send through the nerve | | | | With the recent technological developments, |
| cells a message to the human brain that the | | | | there is great speculation for the direction |
| exposed area is becoming colder than the rest | | | | future clothes will take; in fact the |
| of the body and causing people to feel | | | | clothing electronics industry has just |
| discomfort. | | | | started. |
| | | | |