WOOL BREECHCLOTH

WITH WORSTED LACE

The breechcloth was the most basic of garments used by males from the eastern woodlands to the Great Lakes Region during the 18^th century. Originally this garment was an animal skin fitted between the legs and held in place at the waist by a leather thong. This formed a front and rear flap. In the 18^th century the form and function did not change, just the materials used. Wool replaced the animal skins and decoration began with wool braids or strips, silk ribbons, beads, and silver brooches. Among some of the Algonquin speaking tribes the leather waist thong was as important as the breechcloth itself. An old custom believed that if the waist thong was removed "The warrior would loose his manhood". That makes sense!!!!Very early 18^th century painting suggest the breechcloth was quite small. This was due to the general fact that the fabric was difficult and expensive to obtain and fabric was basically about 9 inches in single width. In 1615 Samuel de Champlain write of his description of an Ottawa woman that she wore a leather breechcloth reaching to the middle of her thighs. The breechcloth was often decorated in the same manner and with the embellishments as that of women’s wrap-around skirts. The majority of the eastern natives wore the breechcloth with leggings which were tied to the leather waist thong. This practice was also adopted by many of the white frontier traders, scouts, and longhunters. It was more comfortable and also tended to make them appear more native.