Arts and Sciences
Garb in Period

Garb - what to wear at an Event

What do you wear and where do you get it from ?
Common enough questions and the answer remains the same - You have a choice to either buy it, get given it, or make it yourself.

Where can you buy garb ?
Well, eBay is a starting point but first, what are you after ? A simple tunic ? Or more elaborate Garb ?
Remember too that some garb isn't - it can be fantasy clothing dreamed up by someone without knowledge of what happened in history with style and fashion in so many parts of the then known world.

Given it ? Who does that ?
If you are extremely fortunate, you may be given garb by another member. Remember though that it still needs to be 'in-period- for the time you are re-creating. Most of the time this will be the case. The person may want a small payment from you for the garb to cover actual expenses in materials. Others will find an occasion like your birthday or Christmas to give it to you as a gift if they know you that well. Lucky you if that happens :)

Making it yourself
Now don't panic if you have never operated a sewing machine. If you are more comfortable using actual period stitching techniques, go for it. But to most SCA-dians, ye olde sewing machine is the answer to making garb. Well, that and some patterns :) It really isn't that hard.
See your local A&S officer about patterns and what to do. Ask about the period you are wanting to re-create a costume (garb) for. Look it up on the internet yourself and do some research at the library. I did this and was frightened by the things I found interesting that I stumbled across on the way. This was way too interesting! This is the start of your research into SCA period things and garb is often the means to do that.
After a while, when you have some garb to fit the period you want to re-create or after you want to get past the generic T-tunic (in-period for many centuries), you will find a need to make other garb for different periods. An Event will be re-creating a certain time in a certain country and you want to go along. More research, more sewing or buying and there it is. Yet another piece of garb in your wardrobe.

!!WARNING!!
Be warned! - you will often find some items of garb are far more practical and comfortable than modern wear and you may wish to wear it all the time !
Capes and cloaks fall into this category on a very cold frosty day in winter. It's kinda neat getting on a train or bus with a cape or cloak, and being so warm and toasty when everyone around you is cold and shivering. People look at you and know you are warm. They wonder who you are and why you are wearing that cape or cloak and you will find you can talk to them and tell them of the wonderful 'thing' you are in - no no - not the cape or cloak, the SCA!

More to come . . . . .