Our Apparel

Written and reviewed by Anjali Sharma, Biology & Home Science faculty at UniDrill (M.Sc. Botany, Banaras Hindu University · 8 years teaching). Based on NCERT Home Science Class XI (Human Ecology and Family Sciences Part II), Chapter 9.

Why do we judge people by their clothes in ten seconds?

When you meet someone for the first time, you notice the smile, the walk, the posture and, before any of these, the clothes. Clothing creates the first impression. That is why dressing is never only about covering the body. It tells others about you, protects you, and, for a growing child, shapes confidence and a sense of belonging. This chapter first asks why people wear clothes, then what a family weighs when choosing them, and finally what a child needs at each stage of growing up.

Four reasons for wearing clothes

Why dress now levels social class. Stylish clothes such as T shirts, jeans and salwar kurta are now available at reasonable prices to people of all ages and incomes. Similar clothing across groups acts as a class leveller, a small step towards social equity in a democratic society. The desirability of each type of adornment is decided by the society in which a person lives.

Five factors that affect the selection of clothing

Geography, climate, easy availability, culture and family traditions all shape the decision, which parents or elders make for children. The main factors are summarised below.

Fashion versus fad. Fashion has wide, lasting appeal; a fad exaggerates some feature, affects only part of society or one area and fades fast. Children and adolescents are the ones most likely to be taken up by fads.

Two views. For the exam: schools prescribe a uniform to de emphasise the socio economic differences among students. Another reading: some educators note that uniforms can also limit a child's self expression and add to costs for families, so the best uniforms are comfortable, affordable and simple. Both readings agree that a uniform reduces visible differences in family income.

Seven basic clothing needs of children

Children identify with peers and adults they admire, and dressing like them is an emotional experience. Their clothes must let them play freely, which is essential for physical growth.

Why comfort is number one. A child who cannot move freely cannot play, and play is how skills and strength develop. So the most important requirement is comfort, and every other feature should be chosen without compromising it.

Fibre choices. Cotton is the most widely used fabric because it washes easily and is comfortable. Wool is warm but needs special care. Polyester, nylon and acrylic wear well and are easy to care for. A cotton and polyester blend is often more comfortable for a child than pure polyester because it absorbs more. Light weight acrylic and nylon clothes keep a child warm in winter without heavy bulk.

Beyond the textbook. For the exam: raglan sleeves give more freedom and growth allowance than set in fitted sleeves. In reality: the raglan sleeve takes its name from Lord Raglan, a British army officer of the 19th century, and its slanting seam from collar to underarm is what lets the arm move freely. The same logic is why loose, wide cut kurtas and frocks suit crawling and climbing.

Pause and predict: a mother buys a school shirt two sizes too big so that it will last three years. Which two needs of children's clothing does this break, and what should she have done instead?

Check your answer: it breaks comfort and safety, since very large clothes are neither comfortable nor safe. She should have chosen the correct size with growth features, such as a hem that can be let down, adjustable straps and raglan sleeves, and fabric that does not shrink.

Worked example: cost per wear and the growth allowance

Income affects clothing choice, and growing children outgrow clothes quickly. A simple way to compare buys is the cost per wear.

Problem. A woollen sweater for a child costs ₹800. The child wears it about 40 times in one winter. The same sweater, if it fits the younger sibling next year and is worn 40 more times, how does the cost per wear change? Compare it with a ₹500 sweater that the child outgrows after 25 wears.

The sweater with growth features and good quality is the better buy, because the price is spread across more wears. Common wrong step: choosing the lower price tag, ₹500 against ₹800, without counting how often each will actually be worn.

Growth allowance works the same way in length. A trouser with a 5 cm cuff at the hem can be let down to add up to 5 cm of leg length, so one pair stays wearable for many more months.

Clothing at each childhood stage

Why infants should not wear all wool. Baby skin is delicate, and all wool flannel can irritate. A baby flannel, or a blend of wool and cotton or silk, is preferred. In many rural homes, infant clothes are simple and home made from used materials, which works well when the used cloth is soft and washed well. If old cotton sheets are used for diapers they must be well sterilised and disinfected.

Why the toddler's main concern is shoes. Walking begins, and a child's foot bones are still soft. Wrong fitting or badly shaped shoes can injure them, and good fitting shoes help build balance, climbing and running skills. Because children outgrow shoes quickly, they need frequent replacement.

Pause and predict: a 14 month old who has just started walking is given a pair of stylish shoes one size too big "to grow into". Which stage concern does this ignore?

Check your answer: the toddler's main concern, correct fit of shoes. The soft bones of a toddler's foot may be hurt by wrong fit or shape, so shoes should be fitted on the child, checking length, width, toe space and heel, and replaced as the foot grows.

Clothing for children with special needs

Clothing gives a child with disability a sense of autonomy and competence, and dressing independently brings emotional satisfaction and pride. When the child is severely disabled or incontinent, a carer dresses the child, which is time consuming, so the garments must make it easier for both.

The best garment is one made to suit the individual needs of both the wearer and the carer.

Beyond the textbook. For the exam: openings should be easy to reach and fasten, with velcro and key chain zippers preferred. In reality: designers of adaptive clothing for people with limited hand movement follow the same logic as the self help features of a toddler's dress: big openings, front fastenings and fasteners that do not need fine finger control. Good design for a toddler and good design for a person with a disability often overlap.

Exam traps

60-second revision

Where this chapter connects

• Previous: Nutrition, Health and Well-being covers feeding children through the same stages of childhood.
• Next: Financial Management and Planning begins the adulthood unit and shows how income shapes every spending choice, including clothes.
• Related: Fabrics Around Us and Care and Maintenance of Fabrics explain the fibres and care behind the choices here.
• Class XII link: Design for Fabric and Apparel and Fashion Design and Merchandising build on fashion and clothing design.