Traveling down the history lane, it is a common belief that the blacksmithing profession is as old as the existence of metal itself. Blacksmithing has been in life even through pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial eras. Everything about blacksmithing started with the trade, including the colonial blacksmith clothing.
The colonial period lasted through the 17th century until the revolution in the late 17th century and early 18th century, and this period signifies a significant time in blacksmithing history. The blacksmith profession is one of the lucrative and most valuable during the colonial era.
Blacksmiths are different from other people, particularly in the way they dress. Blacksmithing clothing in this period is both for identification and protective purposes. Here are some of the peculiar blacksmithing clothing in the colonial era.
Shirt
Most times during the colonial era, blacksmiths often wore a shirt with an extended arm. These shirts are mostly made from linen that is weaved together coarsely and bleached. The typical linen used during this period is usually from the flax plant. This material is employed because it is very durable and does not conduct heat during hot weather. Aside from the fact that the shirts have large hands, it is also long enough to reach the top of the thighs. It is an iconic part of colonial blacksmith clothing.
Breeches
A breech is a term that stands for shorts that reach knee level; hence they are called knee-breeches. Breeches are often from deerskin, coarse linen, a mixture of different fabrics such as linsey-woolsey mixture. This material was dominant in this era because there was a scarcity of wool at this time. The material type is suitable because of its toughness, and it serves as a protective covering.
Shoes
The term shoes serve as the footwears for blacksmiths. One of the foot wares that complement shoes in this era is a fabric stocking. The boots are usually with lace or some buckles that are relatively inexpensive.
Apron
Apron has maintained a significant relevance in blacksmith clothing even during the colonial era. The primary use of aprons is to protect blacksmiths from heat, both from the forge and the metal he is working on at the moment. The apron used during the colonial era has designs that cover the chest, shoulders, the abdomen, and, sometimes, the knee. The most common material for the apron is full-grain leather, and thick wool is also useful on a few occasions.
Headgear
The headgear can be a cap or a hat. These headgears can be made from linen that is cut and sown or stocking caps that are knitted. It can also be a hat made of wool or a helmet that is from beavers. The headgears usually protect the eyes from particles flying around, and objects falling above.
Conclusion
The colonial-era holds significant relevance in the history of blacksmithing, and one of the things that are peculiar to this period is the blacksmithing clothing. Most of the dress is still in use until the present modern-day blacksmithing. The primary aim of most of this clothing is to protect the blacksmith, but it can sometimes serve as a means of identification.