Akwete
Akwete is a decorative cloth with complex weave designs, creating intricate geometric patterns, made with many vibrant colors. It is usually made into wrappers for women to wear and it is made by the Igbo women of Nigeria.
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aniline dyes
Synthetic, chemical dyes for garments first invented in the 19th century.
back apron (negbe)
An oval-shaped decorative pad worn by Mangbetu women over the buttocks in Central Africa.
barbette
A piece of linen which passes under the chin and is pinned at the sides, usually worn in conjunction with additional head coverings during the Middle Ages.
bark cloth
Bark cloth is fabric made out of bark from trees.
beadnet dress
A decorative sheath dress made of beads worn in ancient Egypt.
bloomers
Bloomers are a bifurcated garment that were worn under dresses in the 19th century. They soon became a symbol of women’s rights because early activist Amelia Bloomer wore drawers long enough to stick out from under her dress.
bombast/bombasted
The padding used to structure clothing and create fashionable silhouettes in the 16th and 17th centuries.
boubou
The boubou is an African robe made of one large rectangle of fabric with an opening in the center for the neck. When worn it drapes down over the shoulders and billows at the sleeves.
buff coat
A leather version of the doublet that was often, but not exclusively, worn by people in the military in the 17th century.
bum roll
A roll of padding tied around the hip line to hold a woman’s skirt out from the body in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
busk
A flat length stay piece that was inserted into the front of a corset to keep it stiff from the 16th century to the early 20th century.
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