The Dawn of Fashion: How Eyed Needles Tailored the Evolution of Dress

From stone tools that prepared animal skins for humans to use as thermal insulation, to the advent of bone awls and eyed needles to create fitted and adorned garments, why did we start to dress to express ourselves and to impress others?

Researchers explore the transformation of clothing from mere protection to a symbol of social and cultural identity, highlighting the advent of eyed needles around 40,000 years ago as a pivotal innovation. This technology enabled the adornment of garments, marking a shift from utilitarian use to expressing personal and group identities, significantly influencing how societies evolved and interacted.

Archaeological Insights Into Clothing’s Social Role
Clothing is understood as a significant component in shaping what makes us human. The emergence of clothing enabled our ancestors to inhabit more corners of the world, access different resources and environments, and connect with a broader community. Today, clothing is associated with identity and status. Yet archaeological evidence indicates that apart from thermal reasons, clothing was not intrinsic for society or cultures to function.