A variety of peoples with different styles of clothing inhabited North, Central, and South America before Europeans arrived beginning in the late 1400s. In the northern Arctic regions, the Inuit (Eskimos) and Aleut peoples wore fur parkas and trousers. The clothing of nomadic hunting societies farther south was made of animal skins. Men in some societies wore little more than a loincloth and leather leggings. Both men and women wore one-piece robes, generally made of animal skin, with an opening for the head. Decoration on articles of clothing and jewelry might consist of featherwork and quillwork (decoration made with porcupine quills); body paint was also used. After the Europeans introduced colored glass beads to the Americas, these, too, were applied to jewelry and to moccasins (soft slippers) and other apparel of animal hides.
After Spanish conquerors introduced sheep to the Americas in the 16th century, the indigenous peoples of the American Southwest became the first of the native cultures to weave sheep's wool into cloth. Earlier, the peoples of this region and elsewhere had made cloth from plant fibers and bark. The Native Americans also adopted vests, woven cloaks, and other items of European clothing.
The indigenous peoples of Central and South America had an elaborate clothing culture before European conquest in the 16th century. Clothing was woven from cotton and other fibers, such as palm leaves, throughout the Aztec, Maya, and Inca empires. Typical garments worn in preconquest Central America included the loincloth, hip-cloth (which was longer than a loincloth), tunic, and cape for men, and the wrapped skirt, untailored blouse, and poncho (a blanketlike cloak, with a hole for the head) for women. Men also wore quilted armor and ceremonial warrior costumes. Jewelry, headdresses, and featherwork were important symbols of status.
After the European colonization, European clothing replaced, augmented, and modified indigenous styles. The Spanish mantilla (a lightweight lace or silk scarf worn over the head and shoulders), long gathered skirt, and tailored blouse became part of women's dress. The sombrero (a large straw or felt hat with a wide brim and a high crown), jacket, and trousers became part of men's attire. Spain's trans-Pacific trade between its colonies in Acapulco, Mexico, and Manila, Philippines, introduced some Chinese and Philippine motifs and embroidery styles into Mexican and Central American women's clothing. When the French navy visited Guatemala in the 19th century, a particular style of straight-legged, navy blue sailors' trousers became incorporated into local dress. By the late 20th century, commercially woven cloth and synthetic dyes had largely replaced handwoven cloth and vegetable dyes. Nevertheless, many ancient design motifs with symbolic significance, such as serpents and rainbows, still persist.
Similar changes occurred in the Andes Mountains of South America when the Spanish conquered the Inca Empire in the early 16th century. Although European styles replaced most traditional Inca clothing, some ancient Andean woven textiles have survived and are now in museum collections. These textiles were primarily made of cotton, although llama, alpaca, and vicuña wools were also used. Weaving materials were often colored with mineral and vegetable dyes. Along with patterns and images woven into the fabric, painting, stamping, embroidering, and appliqué were used to create textile designs. Despite European influence, traditional weaving remains an important activity among women of indigenous Andean societies today. Weaving and clothing are still used to communicate regional identity and marital status. In addition, many Andean women now produce hand-knitted sweaters and other garments for commercial markets.