Clothing and textile sources

[richsc]

The latest book we all have used for reference is A T Croom's "Roman Clothing and Fashion." The book by Sebesta and Bonfante, "The World of Roman Costume" has many source illustrations from sculpture, but their reconstructions seem a bit dated. For leather, the only thing I have found is what is in the Vindolanda book III, by Carol van Driel-Murray et al. and has some leather and textiles in it.<br>
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Are there other sources out there?<br>
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There is a source book on textiles in the Roman era that I have not bought, available through Oxbow/Brown.<br>
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("The National Roman Fabric Reference Collection: A Handbook" by Roberta Tomber and John Dore<br>
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A reference guide to nearly 200 fabric groups based on 650 samples, including imported and widely-distributed Romano-British wares. (Museum of London Archaeology Service, Monograph 2, 199<br>
ISBN 1901992012. <p></p><i></i>

[venicone]

Ive got a few websites in my bookmarks - ill post themin next day or two <p><img src="http://www.ttforumfriends.com/images/forum/co.gif"/><br>
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[venicone]

heres a few online examples with images of textiles<br>
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www.hp.uab.edu/image_arch.../ullf.html<br>
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www.unc.edu/courses/romet...brian.html<br>
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www.textilemuseum.org/tot...tindex.htm<br>
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www.marlamallett.com/coptic.htm<br>
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www.khm.at/system2E.html?...ge181.html<br>
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www.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey/...tiles.html<br>
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<p><img src="http://www.ttforumfriends.com/images/forum/co.gif"/><br>
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[venicone]

TS1316 R65 2001<br>
Title: The Roman textile industry and its influence : a birthday tribute to John Peter Wild / edited by Penelope Walton R<br>
Publisher: Oxford : Oxbow, c2001.<br>
Location: NEWMAN<br>
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<br>
this is worth a read<br>
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also online :<br>
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[url=http://www.textiles.umist.ac.uk/textiles/research/Archeology/archaeology.htm" target="top]Research on Vindolanda Textiles [/url]<br>
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<p><br>
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[richsc]

Looking for the above also turned this up at Amazon.co.uk:<br>
<br>
The National Roman Fabric Reference Collection: A Handbook (MoLAS Monograph Series)<br>
R. Tomber, J.N. Dore<br>
Our Price: £26.00<br>
Paperback 200 pages (1 June, 199<br>
Publisher: Museum of London Archaeology Service; ISBN: 1901992012<br>
<br>
But I'll have to take a breather before I pick up any more books!<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[venicone]

Id be interested to hear what type of clothing our civilians posting on here wear........<br>
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As someone "living" in the North West provinces I wonder how much it differs to say , our civilians in the US etc? <p><br>
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[Anonymous]

Larissa Bonfanti , Judith Lynn Sebesta, and Norma Goldman (editors and contributors to The World of Roman Costume) are planning a new publication for students, teachers, reenactors and the general public to be released in January in coordination with the 2004 AIA/APA convention in San Francisco. I might add that some of my work will appear in this volume, but as of now, I'm not sure exactly what. There is also a fine article on palla draping called "Clothes as Sign: The Case of Large and Small Herculaneum Women" in the newly released Women's Dress in the Ancient Greek World (ed. George Llewellyn-Jones, Duckworth and Classical Press of Wales, 2002). There is much new research in this area and with the increased interest in reenactment as well as classical studies in universities and secondary schools, Larissa, Judith, and Norma wanted to have some non-schorlarly information readily available.<br>
<br>
Wade heaton<br>
Lucius Cornelius Libo<br>
[email protected] <br>
www.togaman.com <p></p><i></i>

[richsc]

Salve Togaman!<br>
<br>
Sorry to be slow lately but I've been on 'vacation' aka 'family business trip'. Anyway, I have had emails with Norma Goldman who says they are planning a book of patterns as well. I've told them we are willing to be guinea pigs.<br>
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I think I even sent her the URL's from Legio XX events. As I remember from her book, Larissa Bonafante said she had to use modern textiles rather than linen and wool due to cost. We'd be glad to help out!<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Salve tibi!<br>
Good to hear from you.<br>
One of the things Norma, Judith and I discussed at length in Buffalo was the expense and difficulty in obtaining suitable fabric, even the right fiber in modern fabric stores can be dead wrong. Anyway, they both admired my intention to reconstruct garments using only wool, cotton, linen, and silk, even if the results weren't perfect. Believe me, they inspected our stuff with trained fingers, and I breathed a great sigh of relief when they approved. I lucked out years ago with the Italian wool I ordered from Italy (redundancy intentional) for my Imperial toga, but my newer stuff (Republic, Ara Pacis etc) came from a chain fabric store and the difference is both visible and tactile. Judith especially admired our attempts at dyeing with natual dyes. I try to keep it authentic as possible. I think Norma, Larissa, andJudith are going to use some of my pictures (of myself-togate at the Colosseum- and my female model in her stunning peplum). I still feel a little like bragging because mine is the first wool toga they have seen. They are revising some of their text (so they said) because of my thesis that the weight of garment borne on the left arm trained the citizen soldier for future duty and reinforced the behavior of citizenship. That's the crux of my presentation anyway. Anyway (ahem) I'm searching for a good cobbler/bootmaker because mine has graduated and absconded with the leather. My senatorial calcei need to be replaced. Do you know of anyone on your side of the world?<br>
<br>
Togaman <p></p><i></i>

[richsc]

I'm interested in the sources for the fabrics. We get our linen from a supplier in New York, at $5/yard or so, and it is available, depending upon supplier, in a variety of weaves such as herringbone or twill. We'd really like to know what the closest should look and feel like. Much of our linen is very stiff, while some is fairly soft. I have no idea what the originals were like in weight, either.<br>
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We have a few all wool togas in our group. I was planning on making one if I can get an idea of what the bolt width should be like, if it's stitched together, and how that would be done.<br>
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I too am working on natural dyes, indigo and madder to start. However, our German Shepard got upset that we went on vacation and sought out my madder root and threw it all over the house when we were gone (Housesitter found it). I have no idea how he figured out I wanted to keep a bag of roots. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

First, fabric width. Ah, to be in Milan. Standard American is about three-and-a half feet. My very fine flannel from Milan was double that, so it made the seam go in the right place. All our new ones require seams in odd places. I just ignore it u ntil someone points it out. The Italian wool is also much heavier (though thinner and smoother) with a tighter weave which gives weight and better folds. I'm learning the pallium/himation now (Roman casual wear) and it's much more comfortable. We use silk noyle (noile?) It drapes beautifully and there are many more ways the wear it comfortably. Our linen is stiff too. But washing and lots of beating it up in packing, unpacking and kolpoi (gathering and flouncing it) are making it look and feel better every time. I can see the look and feel it with my fingers. My models tell me it gets more comfortable to use and fold every time.<br>
Weight is the big secret. It is everything. Expect a workout, but a stronger spine and shoulder girdle from wearing these things has its advantages. All our pallae (and my pallium/ himation) have weights, sewn in the seams or hung outside. Believe it or not, they make the throwing on and draping easier and more stable. They make the wraps move. If you study Greek pottery, you can seee the lead drops hanging at the corners and they make the draped garment look absolutely authentic. Some of the photos on the website of the women's clothing were too new at the time to show what they look like in person, but part of the show is how the garments move with wearer. I don't weight my toga; it has enough by itself.<br>
Good to converse. I'm sure there's more to come. <p></p><i></i>

[richsc]

We get our linen from MJKahn in New York. The bolts I have are 45" and 56" in width.<br>
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www.wovenfabrics.com/Cott...abrics.htm<br>
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