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Fashion's Secret History: War, Pockets, and Zippers
11 Dec
Summary
- Zipper's invention took longer than the Wright brothers' plane.
- 18th-century women's pockets held writing tools and snacks.
- Layering, a key to Uniqlo's success, started in the 1940s.
Radio producer Avery Trufelman's podcast, Articles of Interest, unearths surprising historical facts about fashion. Did you know the zipper's invention spanned a longer period than the Wright brothers' airplane development? Or that 18th-century women's pockets were capacious enough for writing tools and snacks? Trufelman also reveals that the concept of layering, integral to brands like Uniqlo, originated in the 1940s with Georges Doriot.
The podcast's latest season, 'Gear,' investigates the intricate relationship between American military apparel and contemporary outdoor fashion. Trufelman highlights that nearly every garment explored has a wartime connection, underscoring the profound and often uncomfortable links between civilian clothing and military history in the United States. This exploration challenges the perception of fashion as a shallow pursuit.
