At various periods of time in history, clothing with different cuts, silhouettes, colours, fabrics in started developing in certain places and parts of the world. Some costumes were important for leading civilian lifestyle while others were designed to meet the specific functional and practical requirements. Elements of one genre of clothing permeated into another over centuries. Draped costumes were essentially one of the common archetypes which were seen in past cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece etc.
Sumerian Costumes
Inhabiting Mesopotamia as an ancient civilisation, Sumerians started wearing draped garments. These were simple ankle-length wrap around skirts adorned by both men and women alike. There was a certain kind of commonality in draping methods. The Sumerians wore a particular 'Kaunakes' skirt which had to be tied back at waist level with a broad width waistband forms.
Christian Dior inspired by the Sumerian skirt showcased a haute couture garment in Fall 2013.
Babylonian costume
The Babylonians further developed the draped Kaunakes into a thicker tougher version. These were worn under shawls. The shawls were lined with fringes and tassels. The drapes complicated with fabrics over the shoulder or under the armpits. They are seen to be pinned to in few statuettes. A significant difference was the drapes were elaborate among nobilities but the lower rank simply wore linen skirts.
London Fashion Week Summer 2009 had a Babylonian costume inspired gown.
Assyrian Costumes
Assyrians had further ornate and decorated garments than the Babylonians. Assyrians draped elaborate shawls with short sleeve tunics. These were either rectangular or semi-circular. These shawls were worn like aprons, tied a the back and belted at the waist. The fringes and tassels edging along these extensively decorated shawls also portrayed ranks of the civilians. Two belts were sometimes cinched to hold the tunic and shawl in a particular position as none the garments were stitched.
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