Significance

• Chinese peasants have always grown rice in paddies.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of WRI Staff
  
  Since Chinese peasants worked outside from dawn until dusk, they had to wear simple, durable clothing that allowed them to move freely. The rich fabrics like silk and satin that are portrayed in traditional art was not practical for these purposes.
  
  

Features

• Women sewed using materials they grew themselves.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Magnus Franklin
  
  Peasant women would weave fabric and sew clothing for the whole family out of materials they grew. Hemp and ramie (a fibrous nettle plant) were abundant, so peasants often wore long one-piece garments made of these. Men would would wear loose, homespun wool trousers and a cotton shirt.
  
  

Women's Clothing

• The Southern Chinese climate is hot and wet.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Quinn Mattingly
  
  Women often joined their husbands in farm work. Since they also tended to domestic chores, their clothes needed to be durable as well. Summer in Southern China could be hot and sticky, so long, light cotton dresses would be practical, and wool dresses in the cooler months.
  
  

Other Types

• Wide-brimmed hats kept sun off the face.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jochen Frey
  
  Children dressed in smaller versions of their parents' garments. Shoes would be made of wood or straw, although many people, adults and children went barefoot. The Chinese considered it proper to always wear a hat in public.
  
  

Fun Fact

• Today both farmers and city-dwellers wear western dress.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of traveling for about a month) (Jeremy Barwick
  
  Today most Chinese no longer make their own clothes, and have access to many different types of fabrics, such as polyester and nylon, as well as western t-shirts and trousers. They may wear traditional long gowns for special occasions.