Cherokee Indian Culture-Clothing

            When people think of Native Americans they automatically think of moccasins and headbands with feathers in them. Although this is partially true, there was much more to the clothing worn by the Cherokee Indians. Like today, different types of clothing were worn by different kinds of people to identify social class and job/duty.

            During warm months of the year, Cherokee men would wear only a breechcloth and moccasins. This was so that they would not be hot while doing laborious work. However during the colder weather, the men added leggings and a hunting jacket to their outfits.

            Women would wear a short skirt in the summer and then in the winter they would add a poncho-like top. However in the early 1800s, the Cherokee Tear Dress became the standard traditional fashion for Cherokee women. These were called “Tear Dresses” because they would tear a rectangle or square out of a large piece of fabric.

            All Cherokee Indians wore feathers in their hair. However, chiefs and priests wore long, full cloaks made of feathers and feather caps. These feather caps were similar to the traditional Indian headdress seen in movies.

            One of the traditional Cherokee articles of clothing we still see today are moccasins. Native American men were actually the ones that made them as oppose to the woman who made all the rest of the clothing.