Gothic Clothing and the Gothic Era

Gothic Clothing originated from Europe during the Gothic eraof the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages is the time interval between the Renaissance and the Classical era. This period was 'Gothic' meaning boorish and barbaric. By 1800, Gothic began to spread and the word 'Gothic' referred to darkness and desolation. Gothic culture became popular in the late 1980s with the coming of musical brands like London. After Midnight, Rosetta Stone and The Shroud.Gothic clothingbegan to spread through Europe and the US. Gothic culture was a culture of its own and it had many branches. The spread of Gothic culture led to more interests on dark aesthetics and supernatural. Another generation came out during the 1990s transforming the Gothic style. This generation increased the number of people who call themselves Gothic people. Gothic apparel became commercially available with the spread of Gothic fashion. Gothic arts and Gothic robe coats became popular. Subcultures like Shock Rock was a spotlight. The second and first generations saw the Gothic culture as a thing of the underground. The spread of Gothic culture lead to the spread of Gothic painting, Gothic music, Gothic fashion and Gothic architecture. Gothic relates with fear and this is the basis of Gothic clothing. Gothic clothing came directly from the music. However a lot of major fashion designers did not accept this kind of clothing because it represents the negative and terror. However Gothic clothing style is getting popular and many designers design Gothic brands like Issey Miyake, Anna Sui and Kenzo. The media was responsible for the spread of Gothic fashion. A lot of large commercial firms that make clothes began making Gothic clothes. This made Gothic culture to move from a subculture to a popular culture. Gothic fashion styles came from Elizabethan, Victorians and punk fashion. It is a clothing style with homogeneous and dark features. Characteristics of Gothic fashion are dark lipstick, dyed black hair and dark clothes. Female and male Goths wear dark nail polish and eyeliner. Male Goths consume more cosmetics than others. Gothic fashion combines with emo fashion and heavy metal fashion. The clothing is often made up of silver jewelry, precarious stilettos, gloves, purple or scarlet, fish nets, lace and velvets. Gothic movies are popular with musical styles like punk rock. The Batcave club of the United Kingdom is one of the clubs that spread Gothic fashion. The horror themes consists of colored eye makeup, shorts etc. Today, major designers like Yohji, Yamamoto, John Galliano, Anna Sui etc make more Gothic designs. The New York Times then called it " Haute Goth". Famous styles like Jean Paul, Claude Montana and the use of the Gothic style of clothing. Later in the 1990s, rivet-head and Cyber-goth subcultures came up in America. The members who are Cyber-Goths woreblack Gothic robes, goggles, dreadlocks etc to show their Gothic origin. Bands like Cure, Sioxsie and Bauhaus wore traditional Gothic clothing. Certain musical bands in the UK and America wore these Gothic clothing.

Characteristics of Kotar and Greenland robes that appeared in this century

Robes like Greenland and Kotar robes have special characteristics they are known for. Greenland is a place of cold temperature and there are plenty of ice there. Greenland robes have these characteristics:

• Multiple colors and small details.
• Satin, silk and woolen Sir coat. A narrow leather collar closes the neck with a leather trim for the sleeves.
• Wristbands protect women from cold.

The major part of Greenland robes go with sleeves that are long.

This major part consists of an outer wear consisting of colored beads in a fabric.

• Fine sealskin make up the trousers.
• A belt made of black leather with 2 stripes and removed hair are in the front. This is called avittat.
• Little strips of colored leather emphasize the decorations.

The Kamik shoes come from bleached sealskin and they remove the hair of the skin. Older women wear Kamiks that are dark blue while younger women wear red ones. Most of the white Kamiks have decorations consisting of floral design with strips.

• The concept of differentiation of colour came from Moravian missionaries that told women to plant ribbons using color to show marital status and age.

Greenland's women prefer trousers to skirt. There are 3 main variations which are Eastern variation known as Tunumiutunt and Western variation known as Kalaallisat. The Thule area known as Arnatuut. The male Greenland dressers have some elegance but not with many colors. It consists of dark blue or black browsers with canvas and wood. There are 2 side-pockets with a breast pocket. The Kamiks for men are shorter than the Kamiks for women with a decorative cuff on top of it.

• Men wear white mostly with green or blue. The dress consists of glass seed beads that has some weight.

Charming effects of Kotar and Greenland robes on men and women

Kotar and Greenland robes are fashionable robes. The robes have charming effects on men and women with these terms:

• It is colorful: The robes consists of different colors.Greenland robes come with variety of color. The robes combine white, red, black, green and blue colors together giving a fantastic mixture of colors. This is unique too since it is only in Greenland that you will such particular display.

• It is national: Greenland robes are national robes and they are popular often during national celebrations like Greenland's National Day that takes place on the 21st of June. People in Greenland then wear these attire to greet those who visit them. Greenland and Kolar robes show cultural independence of the people. All people associated with Greenland can wear the national attire during such national occasions. Children can wear the national dress too during their birthday celebrations. The people of Greenland wear this national attire for special, civic and secular occasions. The people of Greenland call a man putting on a national attire " qaqortumaartoq" meaning 'to dress in white' and the women "Arnatoortoq'.

• It is uniting; Greenland robes unite the people of Greenland since the people wear the common attire on national feasts. This is one of the charming effects of Greenland robes on men and women. National robes unite the nation.

• It comes with raw materials and new designs: Greenland clothes come with new materials and designs. New aesthetics, ideas and trade make up Greenland fashion. There is interaction between West and East Greenland.