Cards›Culture

Clothing

Covering worn on the body

Clothing (also known as clothes, garments, dress, apparel, or attire) consists of items worn on the body. Clothing is typically made from textiles but may also be made from animal skins, furs, and other natural materials and synthetic fibres. Clothing is a feature of every known human society, and its form and use vary according to climate, culture, available materials, technology, social norms, and individual preference. Clothing serves protective, physiological, social, and cultural functions by providing comfort, thermal regulation, protection against environmental hazards, and specialized protection for particular occupations, sports, and other activities. Clothing also expresses social status, gender, cultural identity, religious affiliation, modesty, and personal style, and plays a central role in fashion. Humans likely began wearing clothing at least tens of thousands of years ago, and early clothing was made from animal skins and plant fibres before the widespread use of woven textiles. Over time, advances in textile production, tailoring, and industrial manufacturing transformed clothing production into one of the world's largest industries. The garment and textile industries employ millions of people, play an important role in global trade, and face challenges related to working conditions and sustainability. The clothing life cycle encompasses the care, maintenance, reuse, recycling, and disposal of garments.