What is the origin of leggings?

Modern leggings

What is the origin of leggings? Good question, there are new clothes and old clothes, there are clothes adapted to new eras and others that do not adapt to anything and end up dying in some chapter of the history of clothing.

If you have ever wondered where leggings came from, what their function was, or is still today, if anyone still uses them, when, for what and at what time, then today's article will be very useful for you.

The leggings

Leggings

According to the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, a gaiter It is a type of stocking, usually made of cloth or leather, that covers the leg up to the knee and is sometimes buttoned or fastened on the outside.

The word comes from French, foal, and this in turn from Old French, Poulanne, skin of PolandWhile in Spanish we talk about leggings and include in that word several styles of this piece, the English language is a little more categorical and has several words to talk about leggings, depending on what they are like.

But what is the history of this piece of clothing? It is quite complicated to make a timeline and know the exact origin, but there is a certain general acceptance around the idea that Leggings first appeared in the clerical world and later spread to the military world. 

What is the origin of leggings?

That is to say, it was the religious first and then the military who were the first users of leggings. In fact, if we think about it, Until the mid-20th century, leggings were part of the clerical dress of bishops and archdeacons in, for example, the Church of England.

Why? Because bishops and archdeacons in general They are on the move, traveling through different parts of their district, and then the leggings are there for protect your footwear and the lower legs from the dirt, abrasion, mud and moisture that any coming and going can cause.

Thus, the early leggings of the religious were black and made of cotton, wool or silk, they were buttoned on one side and could, or could not, extend over the top of the shoe or boot, just above the ankle.

Until 1961, in England, leggings were obligatory for bishops, but as time went by, traveling became more comfortable and simple, with modern means of transportation, and with modern means of communication it also became less frequent, so leggings became optional and eventually became more symbolic. Today, they are only used on ceremonial occasions, if they are used.

Leggings, origin and history

Now, we said that in addition to the religious, it was also the military who were the first to use leggings. By 1700, most armies in Europe had adopted leggings as part of their battle uniform.

Stockings and leggings were common in both military and civilian circles, and leggings were worn all the way to the top. In most armies leggings They cover the entire leg and the laces of the boots. They should not be confused with leggings, which only covered the legs, or with breeches, which were strips of fabric rolled up around the lower part of the leg and formed a spiral shape.

Leggings

The truth is that on some occasions the leggings extended over the ankle, and then they were simply called something like anti-splash. Different branches of a country's armed forces used different forms of leggings., but they all had the same purpose which was to protect the soldiers' lower legs and feet from the elements.

The US Army also used gaiters during both World Wars. What materials were these military gaiters made of on both sides of the Atlantic? Most leggings were made of cotton or canvas., although leather ones could rarely be seen.

Military leggings

We can find leather leggings on the cavalry of the armiesSpecial leggings were used here to take into account the collision between riders and animals. Today we also see them in horse riding competitions, and they were and are an alternative to the classic long boots, providing support and protection to the leg, which is why they are made of leather and have either hooks or a zipper.

We are talking about What is the origin of leggings? And so far we have only talked about Europe and the United States. Needless to say, the same thing was happening in the rest of America, thanks to the Spanish and Portuguese, but what was happening in Asia? Were there leggings in Asia?

Well yes, the truth is that Leggings were also used among the military in Asia for hundreds of years.. For example in Japan, between the 12th and 19th centuries the samurai, part of the aristocratic class of ancient Japan, They used a type of gaiter known as kyahan. They used to wear it under the armor or shin guard that protected their limbs.

Leggings on samurai

The ancient Japanese leggings They were not only for samurai use, they were also used by travelers who wanted to protect their legs from the cold, insects and bushes. low of the roads along which they traveled.

As we see, if we think about the origin of leggings, we see that the military use of them began for a strictly practical reason, as a measure to protect the feet and part of the legs from abrasion and debris. And they have not disappeared completely, although We only see them in ceremonial uniforms.

But beyond this religious and military path, what else can be said about the origin of leggings? Well, they have come a long way, our girls. When they have proven themselves useful They have entered civilian life thanks to, for example, athletes.

Leggings

People outdoors, people who love sports or outdoor life, use gaiters nowadays. Remember that Many of the first explorers were military men before they set out on adventure or discovery, so that's where they brought the leggings from.

Being protected from the elements was important, so leggings were worn all the time. Over the years the development of the textile industry, with the influence of petroleum chemistry, made materials such as nylon or GORE-TEX, for example, they will begin to replace the classic body, wool or cotton.

Modern leggings

These new gaiters were light and resistant, and they allowed humans to reach the North Pole or the top of the highest mountains in the world. Later, they reached more normal travelers, not eager to climb Aconcagua or Everest but to spend an afternoon hiking or running, and so the designs and materials changed to make gaiters lighter, more airy, more useful and more comfortable.

Finally, we cannot forget the ordinary leggings, the knitted ones, which can be used by dancers when they are warming up, or by any girl or woman who wants to keep her legs warm in the winter.


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