Kalei Lowsley Today, I could drive five minutes down the street to a Kohls and buy a whole new outfit for about a days worth of minimum wage and it would likely take less than an hour. That is, unless there is too much to chose from. People did not always have these luxuries. Before the Civil War and the industrial revolution most people generally made their own cloths or had family members do it. This consisted of buying fabric and hand sewing. Outfits were very simple and often had to be sewn on or worn like what we call a robe, before the inventions of laces, buttons, or zippers. The process of making clothing used to be very meaningful, sometimes even sacred. Clothing took a lot of time and effort to make. In the middle ages almost every culture wore types of robes and tunics tied or pinned shut. These didn't take much time to assemble, the process of making the cloth was the important part. When the Renaissance began shape and design became more important. At this time is was very difficult to get dressed, people often had to be sewn into their clothing. Eventually, we began using laces but it was still very difficult to get dressed and undressed before the invention of zippers or buttons. This was the start to people taking a lot more pride in their attire. In the 17th and 18th centuries clothing were literally works of art. Articles of clothing commonly took many people and days to make. Crafters and tailors were very skilled, they hand crafted intricate scenes and put gems for decoration. These intricate designs were signs of the wearer’s wealth. In the 19th and 20th centuries fashion became much more practical. Because of political and social movements people traded their flashy clothing for a more conservative and simple look. More fitted styles were allowed by the use of buttons. Instead of volume, cloths were more naturally fitting and flowy. Civil war was the biggest turning point in clothing and fashion. Ready-made clothing was introduced by the growing demands of the military. The factories could make uniforms quickly and cheaply. Eventually this lead to the development of standardized sizes for men. Measurements of the soldiers revealed recurring patterns and ratios to measurements. Women’s clothing developed much more slowly. Male pattern makers had no idea how women’s bodies were shaped, because of this there were many alterations and extra expenses. There wasn't a study on women’s body measurements until 1937. The U.S. Department of Agriculture helped create a standardized sizing system. The clothing industry evolved as women’s roles in society did. As women’s relationships with domestic life, work life, and urban professional class changed, so did fashion. This new industry created the demand for driving supply and advertisements. Because clothing was readily available, replaceable and easier to make, styles changed fast. Ready made clothing was modern and hip. The Not until this century were ready-made clothing affordable. The industrialization and popularization of ready made clothing was the very start to the fashion world we know now.