Native Arctic Clothing
Traditionally, native Arctic people have made their clothes out of animal skin and fur. Typically this would be seal, caribou, polar bear, wolf or fox. Animal skin and fur are ideal materials for polar clothing as they are light and will keep the wearer dry and warm.
Furthermore, this type of traditional Arctic clothing is worn as two loose fitting layers of clothes, so that the wearer is kept very warm. The `Layering' of lightweight clothing is one of the best ways of keeping the body insulated. The layers trap air between them and as air is a poor conductor of heat this also becomes trapped. As a result, the layers insulate the body by keeping the heat locked in.
Also, because hands and feet are particularly vulnerable to frostbite, it is important that these parts are covered. For example, mittens are worn so that fingers stay warm through contact with each other and murluks (sealskin boots) can be worn, layered: one on top of the other if it is very cold. Finally, a close-fitting hood prevents heat loss through the head (up to 20% of the body's heat can be lost through the head).
Did you know that the word anorak comes from the Inuit language? An annuraaq is the Inuit word for a really warm coat.
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Polar Clothing
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Early Polar Clothing
Native Arctic Clothing <<
Early Antarctic Clothing
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