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This study presents a more complete description of North American dress, specifically that of women married to officers of the Indian-fighting U.S. Army in the second half of the nineteenth century, resulting from changes as a response to unusual frontier conditions. Diaries, letters, and memoirs of 18 army wives were primary source materials. The women's writings contained seven themes related to changes in clothing. Two of these are associated with clothing consumption, the acquisition and maintenance of clothing. Living on the frontier forced women to obtain clothes in unaccustomed ways and provided unforeseen opportunities to lose and damage garments. To cope, women obtained clothing from various sources and relied on sewing skills. U.S. Army wives were both domestic producers and consumers of clothing.

The objectives of this pilot study were to (a) develop and test an instrument and methodology to assess subjectively cleanroom garment comfortand (b) evaluate comfort and particle containment of a traditionalfabric hood and complete coverage hood with remote breathing device. A female subject wearing coveralls, boots, gloves, and either a fabric or complete coverage hood assembly used a subjective comfort instrument to identify garment wearing sensations, thermal comfort, and perceived physical state. The subject was able to distinguish between the level of thermal comfort of the two hoods with the complete coverage hood being more comfortable than the fabric hood. She identified heaviness as a sensation that differed between the two hoods; the complete coverage hood was felt to be heavier than the fabric hood. The subject was less likely to feel energetic, interested, and attentive while wearing the complete coverage hood Early evidence indicates that a human perception approach can provide useful information on cleanroom garment comfort. Recommendations are made for refinement of the comfort assessment methodology. The complete coverage hood was more effective than the traditional fabric hood in containing particle contamination from face and head.

This study represented a preparatory effort to improve understanding of contamination from cleanroom garments worn in the microelectronic and semiconductor industries. Previous research pertaining to cleanroom garments and particle contamination was assembled, and users and suppliers of cleanroom garments were surveyed to identify and categorize currently worn and desired future garments. The research review exposed the diversity of laboratory and garment wear study testing taking place and identified a critical need for industry-wide testing methods and standards to evaluate cleanroom garments. Survey data provided information as to what garments are currently worn in the work environment and pointed to garment comfort as a future research and development effort.