Choctaw Clothing
Choctaw Clothing: "Clothing styles of the Primitive Choctaw
by Lucas Graywolf
By the year 1833, the Choctaw Indians of Mississippi were already on their way to adopting the styles of the European settler who had begun arriving in their villages in great numbers. Tradecloth, a bulky, loose-knit material dyed in bright colors, was brought into the Choctaw villages by both the French and British, as were the pipe-tomahawks that were to become a symbol of the tribe.
Like the women of other tribes, Choctaw women took long lengths of the material, full bolt width, and simply folded it in half, cutting a hole for the head to pass through. In order to assure fullness in the dress, full length gussets were sewn into each side. The dress was then ornamented according to the desires of the women, but usually following some traditional customs. These might include sea shells, fringe, feathers or even beads. As European glass beads became more available, the Choctaw women stopped making them from berries, seeds and rocks.
It was during this same time period that many of the Choctaws, including the men, began to adopt some of the clothing styles of the Cherokee and Seminoles who came to trade in Choctaw villages.
In 1847, French artist Alfred Boisseau painted a picture titled, 'Choctaw Indians Walking by the Bayou in Louisiana.' In that picture the Choctaw man is shown wearing only a very long shirt, made of brightly colored print material, a blanket, leg wrappings and moccasins. This print shirt (slipping off one shoulder) is common to those worn by the Seminoles of Florida during the same time period. The two women are only depicted with large blankets wrapped around their bodies and a small child seems to be wearing an oversized plain shirt with the sleeves rolled up and covered with a poncho made of blanket material.
I"
by Lucas Graywolf
By the year 1833, the Choctaw Indians of Mississippi were already on their way to adopting the styles of the European settler who had begun arriving in their villages in great numbers. Tradecloth, a bulky, loose-knit material dyed in bright colors, was brought into the Choctaw villages by both the French and British, as were the pipe-tomahawks that were to become a symbol of the tribe.
Like the women of other tribes, Choctaw women took long lengths of the material, full bolt width, and simply folded it in half, cutting a hole for the head to pass through. In order to assure fullness in the dress, full length gussets were sewn into each side. The dress was then ornamented according to the desires of the women, but usually following some traditional customs. These might include sea shells, fringe, feathers or even beads. As European glass beads became more available, the Choctaw women stopped making them from berries, seeds and rocks.
It was during this same time period that many of the Choctaws, including the men, began to adopt some of the clothing styles of the Cherokee and Seminoles who came to trade in Choctaw villages.
In 1847, French artist Alfred Boisseau painted a picture titled, 'Choctaw Indians Walking by the Bayou in Louisiana.' In that picture the Choctaw man is shown wearing only a very long shirt, made of brightly colored print material, a blanket, leg wrappings and moccasins. This print shirt (slipping off one shoulder) is common to those worn by the Seminoles of Florida during the same time period. The two women are only depicted with large blankets wrapped around their bodies and a small child seems to be wearing an oversized plain shirt with the sleeves rolled up and covered with a poncho made of blanket material.
I"
posted by Helen Campbell @ 6:56 PM
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