In the Middle Ages, clothes were worn only to cover the body. By the end of the Middle Ages, the guild system began to distinguish between clerical and plebian dress. It was not until the rise of humanism that clothing was slowly valued, and even the human body itself was praised. This is where our fashion comes from.
The fashion revolution can also be seen as the process of re-examining the human body through clothing. The loose-fitting robe, once the standard dress of the Middle Ages, was cut and tightened throughout history, eventually tailoring and sewing to perfectly represent the silhouette of the human body. This process requires expertise and division of labor.
At this time, the tailor also joined the team of artisans and became an important member. Before that time, except for the aristocracy, Europeans made their own clothes by sewing the most common woven fabric and hanging it on their bodies. The main difference between a garment and a garment is the difference in the fabric made by the weaver. Tailors gradually became as important as weavers after 1300, when guilds controlled different crafts. During the Renaissance, many guilds grew by tailoring clothes for gentlemen. The makers of bodices, belts and sashes, leather goods, embroiderers, weavers and dyeers all had their own guilds. The guild members jealously guarded their craft.
The emergence of tailors coincided with the rise of European cities. In these new towns, master cutters were responsible for making clothes for the residents, and the cutting of clothes gradually evolved into a complex, highly professional, and carefully protected craft. And it all started in Italy.
During the Renaissance, delicate and luxurious fabrics with intricate decoration became a major feature of Italian fashion. Italy's cities are the world's biggest stages of modern life, so people are becoming more conscious of their appearance. Luigi Barzjni, in his classic The Italians, argues that the Italian obsession with symbols and spectacle has become a fundamental national attribute.
"This is just one of the reasons, but it has to be admitted that Italians have always been good at activities that have an important role in appearance: architecture, gardening, interior decoration, figurative art, celebrations, fireworks, opera performances, ceremonies. There are also today's industrial design, jewelry design, fashion and film art. In the Middle Ages, the Italians made the most beautiful armor in Europe: exquisite embellishment, elegant shape, clever design, but in real combat, this armor is too light, too low. Even the Italians themselves often used German-made armor. It's ugly, but it's practical. It's safe."
It makes sense that as a culture becomes more popular, external dimensions become more and more important in that culture - for example, the architecture of a city acts as a public stage for everyday life, and this stage seems to function better in warmer climates. The English always say that their castle is their home and that their social life is confined to private clubs. The difference is that Italians live in cafes, walk in squares, Italians prefer to stay in public places. This explains why the squares in Italian towns are so beautiful. Stendhal, the famous French novelist who spent the last 28 years of his life in Milan, once said: "Only a man who is completely disreputable would not want to go out into the streets every day." Even Nathaniel Hawthorne, a dour New Englander, wrote in praise of Italian street culture: "I have never heard human beings talk so joyfully, in a public square a thousand times louder than your own voice." This is quite different from the boring English... even if there are a thousand English people gathered together, it is difficult to hear a dozen monosyllabic words." This concept of the street is called the square salon, the public living room. Every place is a stage from which people see the world and are seen by others, confirming their place in the community.
Of course, climate also plays a role in some ways. The Mediterranean climate offers Italians warm sunshine and vibrant colors. The beauty of nature is both subtle and complex, giving Italians a more sensitive vision and a sharper perception of the physical world. This beauty will inevitably be reflected in the Italian creation. Italy is rich in natural beauty as well as artistic beauty. Lord Byron was a man who loved life and spent the last days of his life in Italy. His tribute to Italy was fitting: "Italy, Italy! Your beauty is breathtaking."
