Man is the only animal that clothes itself. Other animals have outer crusts which seem adequate to protect them in whatever environment they exist. Man however, comes into this world naked and without adequate protection from harsh environments. It's odd that a creator would omit that quality for just one species.
The first clothing, I'm certain came from man's perception that other animals kept warm and were protected from thorny bushes by their coats. They must have reasoned that if they were to wear animal skins, they too would be protected. I don't believe that modesty was a motivator.
We humans still have no natural protection from heat, cold and other hazards in our environment. We too have taken to wrapping ourselves with protective materials we call clothes. Somehow over the years of using clothes as a protective device and concealing body parts in doing so, clothes have taken on a second unintended use, modesty. After years of hiding our things from each other, which incidentally are nearly identical on each of us, it seems inappropriate to reveal ourselves.
In considering the role of clothes in our society you discover what an impact it would have on our economy if everyone suddenly stopped wearing clothes. How many jobs would you imagine could be wiped out from growing or manufacturing the ingredients of the materials, those who transport it, those who design clothes, those who assemble them, those who clean and wash them and finally those who sell them. But it really doesn't stop there. There are those who collect old clothes. Who would have known when the first animal skin was worn by humans that it would come to this?
When I'm sitting on a bench on the boardwalk at the shore and watch the variety of bodies that parade up and down in varying degrees of nudity, I have a greater respect for clothes. Not only do they protect us from the elements but, although not perfect, conceal some sights children should not see. Some wear clothes for protection and some for modesty but some shouldn't be here to wear clothes.
It is odd that two diverse human qualities, vanity and modesty, should account for such a large part of the world economy.
The first clothing, I'm certain came from man's perception that other animals kept warm and were protected from thorny bushes by their coats. They must have reasoned that if they were to wear animal skins, they too would be protected. I don't believe that modesty was a motivator.
We humans still have no natural protection from heat, cold and other hazards in our environment. We too have taken to wrapping ourselves with protective materials we call clothes. Somehow over the years of using clothes as a protective device and concealing body parts in doing so, clothes have taken on a second unintended use, modesty. After years of hiding our things from each other, which incidentally are nearly identical on each of us, it seems inappropriate to reveal ourselves.
In considering the role of clothes in our society you discover what an impact it would have on our economy if everyone suddenly stopped wearing clothes. How many jobs would you imagine could be wiped out from growing or manufacturing the ingredients of the materials, those who transport it, those who design clothes, those who assemble them, those who clean and wash them and finally those who sell them. But it really doesn't stop there. There are those who collect old clothes. Who would have known when the first animal skin was worn by humans that it would come to this?
When I'm sitting on a bench on the boardwalk at the shore and watch the variety of bodies that parade up and down in varying degrees of nudity, I have a greater respect for clothes. Not only do they protect us from the elements but, although not perfect, conceal some sights children should not see. Some wear clothes for protection and some for modesty but some shouldn't be here to wear clothes.
It is odd that two diverse human qualities, vanity and modesty, should account for such a large part of the world economy.
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