Coat c. mid 19th century

This coat, likely from Central Asia, is made of cotton. The material is dyed with vibrant vertical stripes of yellow, red, green, and black, and stitched together in a T-shape with long, wide sleeves. Consider how the cotton was cultivated, spun into thread, and woven into cloth; each stage involving significant labor. The regularity of the stripes suggests the use of a loom, perhaps even an early industrial one. The bright dyes, too, hint at trade networks that brought these colors to the maker. The coat’s generous cut implies it was designed for comfort and movement, perhaps for someone engaged in physical work. Even in an object as seemingly simple as this coat, we can see the complex interplay of materials, processes, and social context. It invites us to think about the lives and labor that went into its creation, and challenges us to see beyond the surface of the object to the web of connections it represents.