Technological Advancements

[Savanik]

In the process of attempting to assemble a cloak for the local Ren-Fair, I discovered several things in rapid sequence.

1. I don't have enough material for a full circle cloak.
2. I don't have enough material for a half circle.
3. I do have just enough material if I make it fitted about the shoulders.

After reflection, that struck me as a little odd - the fitted cloak is a much more advanced pattern, but requires less cloth, and about the same amount of time to assemble. Once you know how to do the dang thing.

Out of curiousity, I then inspected an old trenchcoat I have laying around to determine its pattern. The trenchcoat has more seams, mostly owing to the sleeves - but it uses even less cloth than the fitted cloak pattern.

So in other words:
1. As complexity goes up, time goes up slightly.
2. As complexity goes up, materials used goes down sharply.

I really do mean that. For a half-circle cloak, you need about 4 yards of material. For the pattern I'm using (since I didn't get enough material), I'm using 2 yards. That's a 50% reduction in the usage of materials. That is a LOT.

The space of time between the various inventions of circle cloaks, fitted cloaks, and the trenchcoat pattern is hundreds of years. They are, quite plainly, technological advancements in their own right. The problem is, these items took hundreds of years to come about! The thought that one person could just wake up one morning and go, 'Of course! People aren't ROUND... why are my cloaks?!' - it seems kind of silly. It was a process of innovation that took generations.

Anyway. Food for thought.

Sav

[kinvoya]

Some interesting observations. Here are a few thoughts of my own.

A cloak is more or less one-size-fits-all where a fitted trench would be more limited in who could wear it. Thus, at a time when clothes were passed from generation to generation, the cloak would fit both the fat and lean.

A cloak can double as a shelter/blanket more effectively than a treach coat can. If it's wool it would be somewhat waterproof and could be very useful for sleeping outside when necessary.

If you're traveling on a horse, a wool cloak with a nice hood will spread out over your legs and keep most of your body quite warm and dry.

I think the trench or fitted coat was probably designed for upper class city folk who did not require the weight or want the long-term serviceability of the cloak. Fashion and style superseded servicability, I think. Also, those who wore the fitted garment could afford to pay someone to hand sew all those long seems.

Perhaps the evolution of the fitted cloak and the trench was more dependent on the development of an urban culture, economy and class structure than that it took hundreds of years for someone to think of them.

[Surly]

Um... while I do find this interesting, I don't think it relates directly to Cantr.

*drags the topic to Non-Cantr discussion*

There we are. Now, where were we...?

[Dee]

Surly, since when you're in the CD?

[Surly]

I have been back on CD for a few days now...

You all better watch out! There is a CD member with too much time on his hands around again...

[Dee]

Just wait... I know they'll be accepting my application soon..

[Sunni Daez]

Kinvoya...I agree with your logic between trenchcoats and cloaks. I had horses...riding in a long coat is uncomfortable..I had a Cloak of sorts that I rode with, because it was easier to move about... and didn't 'bunch' up around the waist. The cloak always hung lose.

(Dee...I, too, am awaiting a response...even if it is a rejection....just an answer)