Friday, May 17, 2013

From Simple Smocks To Designer Aprons A Brief History

By Kathryn Neal


If you pause a moment and take a look around your home, one thing should come to mind. This is your house and the things in it are yours, so much so that they are an extension of who and what you are. Custom glassware, flatware, and cookware all these things make an impression and so does the designer aprons you wear while cooking.

In the mid 40's and 50's ladies made the aprons they used. They were quite functional and protected their more costly dresses from various tears and spills. They also helped them to change in a few moments if their spouses came home or company stopped by.

Though many people are very surprised to find out that this is only one aspect of this very old and often used garb. In the far past they have been used for everything from secret society and military uniforms to protective coverings for butchers and blacksmiths. Their are even depictions of Adam and Eve wearing smock like coverings that could be called aprons.

In a working environment they are typically used for protective coverings for people who are wearing them. The blacksmith's apron is typically made from heavy leather. This helps protects him from the extreme heat of his forge and the embers which could come off the metal he is working on. They also help to protect them from any hot oils they use to temper their various metals.

A butchers smock is made from a lighter material generally cotton or wool historically though synthetic fibers are often used in the present days. The biggest purpose for them is to protect the butcher from the nastiness from the animals he is cutting up. They also help to protect him from scrapes and abrasions from the cutting utensils he must use to perform his job.

There are different secret societies that have aprons as a part of its normal dress. The most commonly known of these societies is likely the Free Masons group. It is believed their dress dates to the known style of dress most Egyptian royalty employed in their regular day to day activities. These were believed to be the types of clothes that were really worn by Egyptian gods.

In more recent times the designer apron was often chosen by a man to go with his barbecuing equipment. They often had witty little comments like I'm the chef, kiss the chef or I'm really not drunk. Following the same pattern is the idea that these are seldom bought by men, but more often given to them by their children and spouses.

The apron has a very rich history of different kinds of people using them over the years. Gone are the stereotypes of just house wives or hard working men using them. Counting the resurgence of gourmet cooking, expensive designer aprons are showing a marked come back. They can be purchased in many cooking stores and on line. Now when your are seeking a special gift for someone special, nothing truly beats an expensive custom made apron.




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