Aprons - A Utilitarian Decline On A Household Staple

An apron is a protective garment used to cover the front part of the body

. Typically worn for hygienic purposes, it can also be used to ensure that clothes are protected from stains, dirt and everyday wear and tear. Nurses, domestic workers and waitresses use aprons on a regular basis as part of their work uniforms. Food manufacturing companies also require their workers to wear aprons for sanitation. Homemakers don aprons to prevent dust, soot, mould, stains and rust from sticking to their clothes.

The material mostly used in making aprons is cloth, though other aprons, especially industrial ones, are made of different and stronger materials. Chemical factory workers wear rubber aprons, as chemicals can eat through most materials. Specially designed lead aprons are worn by X-ray technicians to protect them from radiation. Utilitarian aprons, like what carpenters use, have many pockets, which can accommodate different tools. Some aprons are made of PVC or oilcloth to render them waterproof.

A pinafore apron is an apron used more by women and girls for decorative purposes. It is shaped like a dress, which women and girls wear on top of dresses, or blouses. The pinafore usually has lace trimmings and opens at the back. In the old days, girls wear pinafores when they're at school. A cobbler apron covers the whole body, front and back. It is held in place with side ties and waist bands which is tied at the back. This type of apron can be seen in vocational occupations.

The two main types of aprons are the bib apron, which covers the whole part of the body, and the waist apron, which only covers the lower half of the body. It is typically held in place with two strips of cloth which is wrapped around the waist and tied at the back. Bib aprons have a similar strip of cloth at the top which the user wears around the neck. Some aprons have straps in the back which criss-crosses and attaches to the waistband.

In the early days, the apron's use was exclusively in the home. However, with the invention of washing machines and dishwashers, the need for aprons lessened. Around this time, the industrial revolution began and the use of aprons was adopted by manufacturing companies, especially those that deal with wet goods food and hazardous materials.

Nowadays, the use of aprons is rapidly increasing once more as a fashion accessory. While only women used aprons in the old days, now more and more men use them for their protective properties. Also, modernization has wiped away traditional norms, and gender equality has seen a rise in men doing housework. Since the apron is an effective method for protecting ones clothes against stains, it has become a must for cooks around the globe. Domestic workers use aprons as part of the uniforms required by their respective employers, not only for hygiene, but for identification as well.

Nowadays, just about anyone can use aprons for their convenience. Modern aprons are less utilitarian and more decorative as some have designs, logos and humorous expressions.

by: David Watts

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