One of the earliest theories that formed the hypotheses about wearing clothes was the modesty/shame theory. This theory is also known as the fig leaf theory, which is based on the Bible story. Genesis states that Adam and Eve become aware of their state of nakedness when they consume a fruit from the tree of knowledge. And embarrassed, they both sewed clothes out of fig leaves, hence the name fig leaf theory.
Many people began to consider that shame was the only reason behind the clothes, but as time went on, people read more and more, thus offering many other theories. The arguments said that clothing was simply to protect the body from environmental threats. Other arguments claimed that clothing was created to create sexual attraction or show off the beauty of the body.
Clothing was discovered eons ago. The discovery of a 500-year-old male corpse in a glacier on the border between Austria and Italy revealed it. The body was dressed in a fur cap, a leather cape, a loincloth, and leather shoes. This clothing was possibly there to provide protection from strong winds. Beautifying one’s body often brings satisfaction to humans. It is discovered that people began to decorate themselves long before they began to dress. The earliest signs of decoration included paint and tattoos and even jewelry. Items other than clothing also had some meaning in society.
Recent scholars now claim that clothing represents one’s identity and is communicated non-verbally. Clothing in some societies is as functional as language. It represents a person’s age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, social status, and occupation. Clothing reveals certain information about the personality and economic position of an individual. If a woman is dressed in blue jeans and is wearing a ruffled flowered blouse, she is probably trying to say that she wants to look more traditional. On the other hand, a person who wears a t-shirt with the name of a rock band on the t-shirt, then the person is most likely a fan of a rock band.
The economy of society, culture and traditions also inspire what one wears. According to many religions, only the elite class can wear certain items of clothing, while others cannot. Today’s democracies also reveal the same figures. Affluent people dress in fine designer clothes, which represents social status. Uniforms are another class of clothing that represents one’s occupation. They are most likely used by the police, students, the army, etc. Events also influence what one wears, for example in many societies special clothing is made only for weddings and their aftermath. Sportswear is another class of clothing that is made to provide easy movement and protection during games such as football, basketball, cricket, etc.
Clothing has now spread to a very diverse meaning. In high schools, the most desirable students wear something extraordinary that makes them stand out from the teenagers called nerds. This difference marks the boundaries between these two types of groups.