Pre-European Contact:
1. Deer Skin: Before European contact, Cherokee people primarily used deerskin for making their clothing. Deerskin was versatile, durable, and could be easily shaped into various garments.
2. Breechcloth: Men wore a simple garment called a breechcloth, which was a rectangular piece of deerskin wrapped around the hips and passed between the legs, secured with a belt.
3. Leggings: Both men and women wore leggings, which were long,筒状的garments covering the legs from the腰部to the ankles. They were often decorated with intricate beadwork or quillwork.
4. Tunics: Women wore long tunics or dresses made from deerskin. These tunics sometimes reached down to the calves and could be ornamented with various designs.
5. Over mantles: Both men and women wore over mantles during colder weather. Over mantles were large rectangular pieces of deerskin wrapped around the body like a robe and secured with ties or belts.
Post-European Contact:
As the Cherokee encountered and traded with Europeans, certain changes occurred in their clothing styles:
1. Calico Fabrics: Cherokee began incorporating calico fabrics obtained from European traders into their traditional clothing. They often used vibrant colored calico for shirts, leggings, and dresses.
2. Ribbon Shirts: Men started wearing ribbon shirts. These shirts were decorated with ribbon appliqué around the neckline, shoulders, and袖子s.
3. Silver Ornaments: Silver became a widely used material for creating elaborate decorative ornaments. Cherokee made silver brooches, bracelets, earrings, and other intricate jewelry.
4. Turbans: Women began wearing turbans made of colorful cloth as head coverings.
Throughout various eras, the Cherokee clothing styles exhibited influences from neighboring tribes, as well as the changing availability of materials and cultural shifts. Today, modern Cherokee people preserve elements of their traditional clothing in ceremonial settings and cultural demonstrations.