By: Kathy Johnston
Submitted: 2010-08-29 17:55:05 | Word Count: 393
When you begin exploring the history of fashion, you discover a long history for the tunic as a cultural form. In Greece, for example, tunics were worn by many classes in ancient society, including nobility, Senators, military personnel, and common folk! To give you a taste of the rich history of fashion, here are seven interesting facts about tunics from ancient and modern history: *Tunics defy a common definition precisely because they exist in so many styles. You can get a tunic without sleeves or with any length of sleeves from mini sleeves to full length sleeves. Tunics can be worn at any length from the waistline to the ankle.
What many tunic designs have in common is that the garment design covers the human torso from the neckline to the waist. It is easier to think of the tunic as a relative of the shirt, but women also wear tunics as a dress today. *Classical images of tunics and other garments are preserved in the detailed artwork of Greek fictile vases and other artifacts. Gods and goddesses of Greek mythology are captured frequently in beautiful tunics. In ancient Greece, tunics are symbols of men and women. *In historical images, Greek warriors are often pictured in a tunic length robe without sleeves, a spear, a shield, and a helmet. The male Greek warrior wears either no shoes or light sandals with no socks or hose. *A different use of the tunic was employed by the Greek peasantry. A tunic might be worn with short sleeves and a hemline above the knees during outdoor work.
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In a warm Mediterranean climate, wearing a light cotton tunic would be more comfortable than wearing heavier clothing. *In South Asian societies, the tunic has survived over many centuries as a component of the Punjabi suit, also called the “salwar kamiz.” This outfit consists of a tunic, trousers, and a scarf. As a clothing combination, Parminder Bhachu, author of “Dangerous Designs: Asian Women Fashion Diaspora Economies” (2004), notes the Punjabi suit became visible in fashion scenes around the world, especially in cities like London, New York, and Delhi.
