Shirt 1816 - 1817

This shirt was made by Elizabeth Wild Hitchings out of linen, a common material derived from the flax plant. The fabric was likely woven on a loom, a technology that, even when mechanized, still required skilled labor to operate. The shirt's design speaks volumes about the wearer's status. Notice the frills down the front – a purely decorative element that adds complexity to the construction. While the basic form of the shirt is simple, creating those ruffles would have been a time-consuming task, one undertaken by someone with considerable skill and time. The pristine whiteness of the linen is also significant, as keeping such a garment clean would have been a challenge, indicating the wearer's ability to afford both the shirt and its upkeep. Looking at this shirt, we can see how even everyday garments embody social and economic relations. It reminds us that clothing is not just about function, but also about the story of its making, the materials used, and the values it represents.