The art of Arctic clothing

Traditional Arctic clothing brings together men’s hunting skills and women’s sewing talents.

Clothes show the wearer’s status, age and sex, and provide protection against the extremes of the Arctic environment. Double-layered caribou clothing protects to –40°C.

Today, traditional clothing has become a symbol of cultural resurgence and pride.

Across much of the Arctic, the ulu, remains a symbol of women’s industry and skill. Women use it for butchering and skinning animals; scraping fat and oils from a skin; shaving the fur or cutting skin and sinew.

Women also use scrapers, seen here, for working hides. They spend hours scraping and stretching hides to make soft, durable skins for clothing.

The Arctic | Back to the top