hing seems so basic to everyday human experience that it is perhaps easy to forget the practical functionality of clothing. Yet it is useful to recognize that the most fundamental aspect of clothing is its utility in protection from the elements. Thus that it was employed by human beings as a means of protection and comfort. The functionality of a loin cloth readily explains its ability to protect the male genitals from physical abuse, and the functionality of animal skins explains their ability to achieve warmth, shelter, comfort. A practical desire for comfort and shelter is consistent with the fact that weaving "was one of the first crafts developed by primitive man" (Phillips, 1975, p. 81).
But any treatment of the origin of clothing points toward its social significance as well as physical utility to achieve shelter or protection. Ancient Egypt made clothing out of linium, or linen, from flax, a practical fabric that achieved symbolic value because of its white color (Phillips, 1975). In this regard, Barthes comments, "however functional it may be, real clothing always includes a descriptive element, insofar as every function is at least a sign of itself; blue-jeans are useful for working, but they also 'say' work, a raincoat protects from the rain, but it signifies rain as well" (Barthes, 1983, p. 264). Elsewhere, Barthe
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