Clothing styles in general began HBC employees, like Murray, wanted would ensure that they continued to to change with the introduction of people to become dependent on the trade with specific posts. European-style garments including use of European materials as this cloth coats, pants, dresses, shirts, and more. First Nations people quickly adapted many of these new styles into their wardrobes, either by wearing European manufactured goods or, more commonly, fabricating European styles using local materials including jackets and vests made of hide. People commonly continued to make and use footwear based on the older styles and made from local materials. During the early years of trade Alexander Murray noted, … it was hard to dispose of clothing, as they consider their own dresses much superior to ours both in beauty and durability, and they are partly right, although I endeavour to [persuade] them the contrary. Mishler and Simeone, 2004, pg 181.
Photo: University of Pennsylvania Museum published in Dubin 1999.