Hun Clothing

Clothing

Sources from the time period state that the Huns were unkempt, animalistic, and barbaric in appearance. However, one must remember that the main source of information came from the Romans who were quite biased about the Huns. Although the Huns did wear leather and fur garments, they were not without style.

All types of adornment were used by the Huns. Gold was the favored metal and coins were melted down to make small plaques of animals and geometric designs to sew onto clothing. Beads were made from coral, carnelian, mother-of-pearl, quartz, pyrite, lapis lazuli, Egyptian paste, amber, lignite, stone, clay, and glass. Beads were traded from all over. Hun women loved intricate embroidery that used beads to decorate their clothing. Tombs have been unearthed showing even the poorest of Hun women had beads adorning the sleeves and collars of their tunics as well as their shoes and the lower part of their trousers. Women wore pants the same as men did since this was a horse nomad society and women engaged in riding, warfare, and sport that would require trousers.

Hun women adorned their clothes with intricate embroidery and beadwork. Beads were made from stone and glass and were acquired from both trading and raiding. Women would adorn themselves, their horses, and their weapon scabbards with golden ornaments as well.

Huns wore pants made out of skins. Depending on which translation you agree with, the skins were either goat hide or ibex hide.

Tunics of poor Huns were made out of marmot skins sewn together. Rich Huns wore better quality furs. Leather and fur coats were worn that came down close to the knees. Huns wore two fur coats in the winter. The inner coat was worn with the fur facing inward and the outer coat was worn with the fur facing outward.

Hats were made out of hide or fur. Boots were made of sheepskin. (Primary sources state that the boots were made for riding and not walking and that when the Huns walked it was a clumsy gait due to their boots).

Huns also had access to cloth such as linen and nobles would stitch small gold plaques or pendants to their garments.

As a nomad society, wealth had to be displayed in a way that was easily transported. Jewelry and saddle decorations were common. Even more common items such as belt buckles were made into golden pieces of wearable art.

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