Before European contact, the Cherokee people wore clothes made out of animals' skin. They wore clothing made out of animals' skin because the fur of the animals protected them from thorns and bushes. Men and women clothing varied.
In warm weather, Cherokee men wore clothing made out of breechcloth. Breechcloth is cloth made out of animal furs and skins. Deer skin is the most common animals' skin used to make breechcloth. Breechcloth protected their skin. The men wore little clothing. The breechcloth was cut into strips just to cover their genitals and sometimes their chest. The Cherokee first nations had a specials way to make sure animal skin didn't rot, it was drenched in a salty liquid containing several ingredients. Then after it being rinsed in water, it was stretched. Sometimes, to make the material soft, it was chewed. Then it was dried to cut into pieces for clothing. Moccasins were basically shoes. It is made out of deer skin. It has a sole and sides. They are stitched together from one piece of deerskin. Moccasins are usually embroidered. Some moccasins were tall to protect the skin. Because moccasins were made out of deer skin, it protected their feet while walking and hunting. In colder weather, they added leggings that were made out of fur, and they also wore a fringed hunting jacket. The hunting jacket was also made out of animals' skin and fur. This protected their skin and kept them warm. Men usually shaved their head, leaving a topknot which was sometimes called a scalp lock. It was grown long. Men tattooed their faces, but that was mostly only during times of war to appear more fierce to their opponent.
In warm weather, Cherokee men wore clothing made out of breechcloth. Breechcloth is cloth made out of animal furs and skins. Deer skin is the most common animals' skin used to make breechcloth. Breechcloth protected their skin. The men wore little clothing. The breechcloth was cut into strips just to cover their genitals and sometimes their chest. The Cherokee first nations had a specials way to make sure animal skin didn't rot, it was drenched in a salty liquid containing several ingredients. Then after it being rinsed in water, it was stretched. Sometimes, to make the material soft, it was chewed. Then it was dried to cut into pieces for clothing. Moccasins were basically shoes. It is made out of deer skin. It has a sole and sides. They are stitched together from one piece of deerskin. Moccasins are usually embroidered. Some moccasins were tall to protect the skin. Because moccasins were made out of deer skin, it protected their feet while walking and hunting. In colder weather, they added leggings that were made out of fur, and they also wore a fringed hunting jacket. The hunting jacket was also made out of animals' skin and fur. This protected their skin and kept them warm. Men usually shaved their head, leaving a topknot which was sometimes called a scalp lock. It was grown long. Men tattooed their faces, but that was mostly only during times of war to appear more fierce to their opponent.
These are leggings that men who lived on the Interior Plains wore during the winter.
These are moccasins.
In warm weather, women wore a short skirt to keep cool. The skirts were usually made out of deerskin or buffalo skin. They wore poncho like shirts. These were made out of animal skins as well. The women decorated the shirts with things like turkey feathers, beads, animal teeth, sea shells, beads made out of animal bones and pretty rocks. They also used these to make jewellery. They used these items from animals because the Cherokee people barely let anything go to waste. Almost everything was used. Women didn't cut their hair because long hair was considered to be beautiful. Like men, they wore moccasins, to keep their feet protected. Chiefs and priests wore long full cloaks made out of feathers and feather caps. This was to show their place among the others.
This section done by Hansi.R