Clothing

Religious clothing refers to any type of clothing that holds religious meaning or significance for devotees of a particular tradition. Religious clothing is multifarious, represented in a variety of articles, styles, variations, and meanings. Religious vesture can serve as a symbol of tradition, culture, political affiliation, or level of office. Such clothing can also function on a personal or practical level for religious individuals. Religious garb can be a contentious issue in civil society but can also induce greater religious commitment and understanding. Religious clothing becomes one of the most visual representations of a tradition within the current era of globalization.

For some, particular forms of head coverings are of significance, such as the Islamic veil, the Jewish kippah, the Sikh turban, or the Roman Catholic habit worn by nuns. Religious garb can also include various forms of coats, shirts, pants, and smaller articles or parts of clothing such as jewelry, belts, shoes, a particular shirt collar or sleeves of a shirt, and so forth. Religious vesture can even include distinct undergarments such as the Sikh kachera or the [Page 235]temple garments worn by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons).

Religious clothing also varies in color, material, construction, the manner in which it is worn, and the level of extravagance or simplicity it seeks. Variation in style and composition usually holds symbolic significance. For example, white clothing often denotes purity, mourning, equality, or unity. The white kittel, or robe, worn by male Jews during holidays and as a burial shroud in death, signifies the equality of believers, humility before God, and purity of heart. The dhoti, a piece of cloth wrapped around the lower half of the body, is worn by a number of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain groups and varies in style, color, and the manner in which it is wrapped and folded around the body based on those it adorns and the occasion that prompts its use. Members of the Hare Krishna sect typically wear white or saffron dhotis. Jains usually wear white dhotis since they represent purity and simplicity and are made of unstitched cloth. Thus, variation can indicate membership in a distinct denomination, sect, or movement. The adornment or lack of adornment can also hold considerable meaning. Plain, modest clothing is important for many Amish Mennonite groups as a submission of the self in reverence to God and a statement of equality among believers. Roman Catholic monastic clothing varies widely, often becoming more extravagant the higher the office, with papacy regalia being the most intricate and ornate among them. While lack of adornment in Amish communities suggests a lack of hierarchy within the religious community, the vesture of Roman Catholic clergy suggests a distinct hierarchy between the believers and God, mediated through the Roman Catholic Church. Variation can also signify political leanings. For instance, a larger yarmulke or kippah (Jewish skullcap) usually suggests more conservative political affiliation, while smaller kippot denote more liberal orientation. Variation of religious clothing can also serve as a fashion statement, as is the case with the rise of “hijab chic,” where young Muslim women cover their heads with brightly colored and patterned scarves, some even donning high-end designer scarves, in observance of Islamic modesty.

...