Historical information

This petticoat is demonstrative of home made infant undergarment clothing in the early 1900. Distance to and from commercial haberdashery store was too far to fit out young girls especially if the are undergarments. Mothers and other family members had the seamstress talent to make clothes that are not in full view of anyone

Significance

Historically these undergarments have no fashion relevance for the younger fashion scene and this garment is an example of the self sufficient supply of home made articles. This was especially so within the Kiewa Valley and surrounds. Fashion in Australia and more so in areas with little or no access to overseas or city merchandise lacked "modern fashionable" clothes e.g. the latest from England and Paris. This region was and still is a rural backdrop of clothes that fit into the type of life and work of the society it holds.

Physical description

Cotton petticoat, white, three buttons on top back, 8mm wide straps of cotton tape. Gathered skirt with triple row of Rick Rack on the bottom edge and three pintucks, 17mm wide, on the lower edge of skirt. Garment is completely hand stitched