Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education

CLOTHING SELECTION
Lesson 1 - Reasons for Wearing Clothing

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
REASONS FOR WEARING CLOTHING
INTRODUCTION
Clothing is one of the basic needs of man. After shelter a person seeks for third necessity
and that is clothing. Clothes keep our body warm, comfortable, and protects our skin from insect
bites. Clothes can make you look more attractive and respectable. They can also make you feel
good and develop your self confidence. Moreover, clothing is used for expressing wealth, states,
age, occasion, gender, etc. in some societies. It is then important for you to know how to select
clothes.

This learning material aims to enable you to make profound choices when selecting
clothing. However, you will be taught first of the reasons for wearing clothes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. differentiate textile from clothing;
2. explain why people wear clothing; and
3. appreciate the functions of clothing.

PRELIMINARY LEARNING ACTIVITY

Let’s begin this lesson with a video clip from YouTube (https://youtu.be3fvbnTKBsqQ)
titled “History of Clothing - Why Do We Wear Clothes?” As you watch, take note of important
details and facts. Afterwards, ponder on these questions:
“Why do we need clothes?”
“What does people wore in ancient times?”
“How did early humans make clothes?”

LEARNING CONTENT
A textile is any kind of woven, knitted, knotted (as in
macrame) or tufted cloth, or a non-woven fabric (a cloth made
of fibers that have been bonded into a fabric, e.g. felt). It also
refers to the yarns, threads and wools that can be spun, woven,
tufted, tied and otherwise used to manufacture cloth.
https://www.apparelsearch.com/definitions/fabric/textile_definition.htm

Textile comes from the Latin word, textilis for "woven

fabric” and that's exactly what it is. It is an artifact made by
weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic
Figure 1.2 Textile
fibers.
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/textile

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
 Clothing is a covering designed to be worn on a
person's body.
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/clothing

Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel and attire) is

an item worn on the body. Clothing is typically made of fabrics
or textiles but over time has included garments made from
animal skin or other thin sheets of materials put together. The
wearing of clothing is mostly restricted to human beings and is
a feature of all human societies. The amount and type of
clothing worn depends on gender, body type, social, and
geographic considerations.
Figure 1.1 Clothing https://www.definitions.net/definition/clothing

CLOTHING IS CLASSIFIED INTO TWO CLASSES:

FIXED MODISH
substantially permanent predominates in the western countries
not subject to fashion changes changes rapidly in point of time over all parts of
the world; subject to fashion changes

FUNCTIONS OF CLOTHING
 Clothing is useful in protecting the body and providing comfort.
 Clothing itself is self-expression.
 Clothing indicates prestige.
 Clothing is ornamental or possesses aesthetic qualities.
 Clothing has qualities, which tend to attract the opposite sex.

Clothing serves many purposes. It can serve as protection from the elements, rough
surfaces, rash-causing plants, insect bites, splinters, thorns and prickles by providing a barrier
between the skin and the environment. Clothes can insulate against cold or hot conditions, and
they can provide a hygienic barrier, keeping infectious and toxic materials away from the body.
Clothing also provides protection from ultraviolet radiation. Wearing clothes is also a social norm,
and being deprived of clothing in front of others may be embarrassing. Not wearing clothes in
public so that genitals, breasts or buttocks are visible could be considered indecent exposure.
https://www.definitions.net/definition/clothing

THEORIES OF CLOTHING
Four theories have been developed and they provide some “food for thought” and the
opportunity to think critically about clothing.

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
 Modesty Theory: It suggests that people first wore clothing to cover or conceal the
“private” parts of the human body. The modesty theory is based on the idea that morality is
dependent upon modesty, as expressed through the concealment of the human body.

Immodesty Theory: Immodesty theory or sexual attraction explain that individuals may
have first worn clothing in order to attract attention to, rather than to conceal, the sexual organs.
Adornment Theory: This theory refers to the decorative nature of clothes and other
forms of appearances; modifications for purposes of display, attraction or aesthetic expression.

Projection Theory: This theory suggests that clothes protect humans from the elements,
animals or even supernatural forces.

According to Shepherd, Frances et al. (1998), people who have studied and analyzed
clothing over the years have concluded that there are three basic reasons which govern why we
wear clothing.

LEARNING ACTIVITY
Look through fashion magazines, books, newspapers, etc. and select two outfits you will
wear for each of the three reasons stated by Shepherd, Frances et al. why we wear clothes. Put
hash tag to explain the principle.

Example: #DressingBeautifullyWhenGoingToParties☺(Attraction Principle)

LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Prepare a poster showing people wearing different types of clothing (e.g., a construction
worker, athlete, boy scout, ethnic groups, religious groups, etc.) Then answer the question: For
what reason(s) does each person dress the way s/he does?

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
REFERENCES

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/clothing
https://www.definitions.net/definition/clothing
https://www.apparelsearch.com/definitions/fabric/textile_definition.htm
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/textile
https://www.123rf.com/clipartvector/textile_textiles.html?sti=oe4h8u09met1406l92|&med
iapopup=115702264
Shepherd, Frances et al. (1998). Home Economics for Secondary Schools Book 1.
Guyana: Guyana National Printers Limited
Impactall - Be Curious (2019). History of Clothing - Why do we wear clothes?
https://youtu.be3fvbnTKBsqQ
http://www.brainkart.com/article/Classification,-Functions,-Theories-Of-Clothing_1858/
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Education, Division of
Program Development. https://www.gov.nl.ca/eecd/k12/curriculum/guides/homeec/

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio