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Specific Techniques

The skirt is sewn with machine stitching.

Description

Purple skirt of open weave. The skirt is made of two panels of purple nylon fabric with a subtle woven pattern of roundels enclosing a stylized circular flower. The skirt is open at the back and is lined with white nylon mesh. The panels are pleated and inserted into a band of blue nylon fabric lined with white cotton gauze. The upper edge of the band is straight but the white lining shows above it in slight scallops. Attached to the points of the scallops are two shoulder straps of white cotton gauze. At both ends of the band are sewn narrow ties of white cotton gauze.

Narrative

According to the donor, she purchased this set of clothing in a market in Seoul in 1970.

History Of Use

The straps attached to the skirt band, which often was scalloped with the straps attached to the points of the scallops, were innovations introduced after the opening of Korea to the outside world in the late 19th century, replacing the simple waistband with long ties of the traditional “Chi-ma”. The new style was considered to be more modest, as it covered the breasts, and more comfortable. . Sets of “Chi-ma” and “Jo-go-ri” made of inexpensive synthetic fabrics and with very rounded sleeves were worn at this time by women for festivals and occasions such as birthdays of elders. Such sets were made for one-time use and photography on special occasions. The Korean textile industry had developed to the point that it could produce such fabrics by this time. The skirt band was made of fabric of the same colour because it could be seen under the short jacket “Jo-go-ri”. In the Chosun Dynasty, a white skirt band and ties were considered to be beautiful, but this was no longer the case. By the late 1960s, Korean people generally wore simple clothing so that they could work more efficiently. During the 18 years that Park, Chong-hee was president, the transformation of South Korea from an agricultural country to an industrial one was accomplished, and people were urged to work hard. In compensation, people wore elaborate clothing on special occasions. Clothing of this kind was made in markets, and the relatively rough finishing, with the outer fabric folded under to hide the cheaper lining, is typical of that work.