Clothing

In virtually all the countries of the world, men, and to a lesserextent women, are today dressed in very similar clothing. This bookgives a compelling account and analysis of the process by whichthis has come about. At the same time it takes seriously thoseplaces where, for whatever reason, this process has not occurred,or has been reversed, and provides explanations for thesedevelopments.
The first part of this story recounts how the cultural,political and economic power of Europe and, from the laternineteenth century North America, has provided an impetus for theadoption of whatever was at that time standard Western dress. Setagainst this, Robert Ross shows how the adoption of European styledress, or its rejection, has always been a political act, performedmost frequently in order to claim equality with colonial masters,more often a male option, or to stress distinction from them, whichwomen, perhaps under male duress, more frequently did.
The book takes a refreshing global perspective to its subject,with all continents and many countries being discussed. Itinvestigates not merely the symbolic and message-bearing aspects ofclothing, but also practical matters of production and, equallyimportantly, distribution.