Day 2 – Perspectives on Dress History & the Narrative of Clothing

Clothing strikingly characterises the social structures and epochs in their ongoing change through its many functions and diverse qualities. It communicates and represents our personal and cultural narrative as an artistic craft and language. What could be more bound to individual and cultural identity, human beliefs, social behaviour or cultural values than the garments people wore? Historic clothing is layered with such insights. Like forensic scientists, researchers from various fields unravel through distinct methods and sources the different layers of the many-sided meaning of our clothes throughout history.

With various perspectives and methodological approaches they discover the complex phenomenon from different angles. 

In this Track, we will present multiple perspectives and methodological approaches to discover clothing from different angles. We will explore the various insights we find in translating the complex language of clothing through versatile data and sources. The keynote about the Archaeology of Living Dress will

open the Second Day and the various perspectives on dress history. We will present archaeological, historical and experimental research and preservation science and cover different sources, methods and approaches. The presentations will give new insights into the multifaceted relationship between clothing and society from Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to Early Roman Jerusalem. They will illuminate dress codes and representation as essential aspects of diverse religions and cultures.