It is all about the apron...modern life and work, that is. Think about it, everywhere you turn there is another apron in use for yet another need. We could almost completely forgo clothes, simply making do with aprons for all our protective needs. Okay, that is a bit extreme, but the apron has in fact become somewhat ubiquitous in our modern society. What follows is an all too brief survey of aprons in use in modern America from the kitchen apron to vintage aprons used as decoration and as a collector's 'object of desire.' Mind you this will by no means be an exhaustive compilation of apron applications, but rather an array of examples intended to spark the interest, imagination, and the investigative mind of the reader.
Since the early days the Euro-invasive settlement of North America, blacksmiths have made constant use of heavy leather aprons to protect them from the red hot iron they worked. These aprons are often as heavy as a small child (perhaps around the age of five) to help ensure that no slivers or slags of firey iron burn through and maim the smith. Another often-overlooked use of aprons was the practice of the early era of aviators using them while working on and test-flying their planes. The early engines often spat out a lot of oil and soot and so aprons where used to protect the aviators' clothing; aprons were later replaced by coveralls. A related use was by mechanics, and for similar reasons of dirty engine output. Even today you will see mechanics in some high end dealership and specialty repair shops wearing aprons .
Other trades including animal husbandry, carpentry, drafting, and factory workers of all sorts practiced the use of aprons to protect their bodies and their clothes. These aprons came in a wide variety of styles. Oftentimes these aprons needed to provide full coverage and so might descend to within inches of the floor, though there were some, such as carpenters aprons, which were quite short, being designed mostly to protect the genital region as well as to carry tools and hardware. Some of the smaller aprons evolved into the tool belts that carpenters and other tradesfolk use today. Shopkeepers and clerks have commonly worn aprons back through time and still do today in such places as big box stores and at cosmetic counters.
When the subject of aprons is raised, people often first think of Mom's cooking aprons or maybe Dad's grilling apron. The reality is that there is a wide world of apron use that extends far beyond the kitchen and grill; it is simply a matter of formative exposure in the home.
Written by Kacy Suther. Designer kitchen aprons, cute cooking aprons and retro vintage aprons designed by Thia Designs on http://www.dlux57.com .
