Clothes of northern Athabaskan people

Northern Athabaskan made their clothes of suede. Men’s shirts with narrow sleeves were down to one’s knees, women’s shirts – a little longer. The hem of the shirts was often decorated with fringe; it often had the form of wedges. Pants formed one unit with footwear. Such type of clothes was typical of the Athabaskan only, while other Indian tribes did not combine pants with moccasins. For making clothes deer skins were preferred – after treatment they were the lightest, softest and most durable. Clothes were decorated with fringe and braids. Of special interest are motifs of porcupine quills. The pattern was first attached to leather stripes that were then sown to the item of clothing. Making patterns of spilt porcupine quills required time and patience. Even the most skillful master could make motifs for only twenty to thirty shirts in the whole of her life. Therefore, after a shirt became worn out, stripes with patters were cut off and sown to a new shirt. The pattern was of symbolic meaning and played the part talismans.

Men's shirt. USA, Russian America. The Tanana. The first quarter of the 19th cet.