Men's Pants Evolution

The Evolution of Men’s Pants

The evolution of men’s pants may seem inconsequential, but it speaks volumes about the evolution of technology as well as society’s views of masculinity. In this paper, I will be discussing and explaining how humans went from pantless men in Greece to the uniformity and covered attire of the Edwardian Period in the early 20th century. Furthermore, I will use the specific examples of the loincloth and Chiton from Ancient Greece, the Hose worn during the Italian Renaissance, the Blue Jeans worn during the Crinoline Period, and trousers in the Edwardian Period to elaborate on the chronological progression of men’s pants. Since I will be discussing these items chronologically, I will start with the Loincloth

This example is the most significant because it had a profound impact on men’s silhouette that still exist today while also perpetuating the societal expectation of the working man. They are also significant to discuss because they are representative of the rapid way technology advanced once the Industrial Revolution gained steam. Where The United States was once an agricultural economy, the output of mills and factories surpassed that, becoming the dominant form of trade. Beyond that, Blue Jeans and The Levi’s brand (who pioneered the garment) have historical significance with the Gold Rush of the United States during the mid to late 19th century. According to Levis.com, in 1853 “Bavarian-born Levi Strauss [moved] to Gold Rush era San Francisco to open a dry goods business. He sold clothes, boots and other goods to the small retail stores of the American West,” and subsequently in 1872, “Jacob Davis, a tailor from Reno, Nevada, [teamed] with Levi Strauss to create and patent work wear riveted-for-strength made of brown cotton duck and true blue denim.” The importance of Blue Jeans is in the fact that the Industrial Revolution started creating variance in men’s trousers and pants while promising usability. The modern silhouette of men’s pants was created during this revolution and the Blue Jeans were one of the first variants that could be mass-produced, thus making this era very important when identifying the changes that created the men’s pants that are known today. In addition, Blue Jeans are an extension of society’s reliance on the working man and less on the fashionable man. Clothes for men, by this time, aim for practicality over