The Second Skin : A study on the relationship between clothes and human bodies

Clothes are the second skin on human bodies. By coming in contact with humans, clothes become a part of the body. Through the contact, clothes affect and enable human actions. This thesis investigates the relationship between human bodies and clothes by conducting interviews and wardrobe studies. Together with the informants and clothes, the exhibition “Fashioned from Nature” from The Victoria and Albert Museum is partly analyzed. The material is being interpreted in a critical analysis through theories on material agency and skin. The analysis turns to the culture and nature dualism, in order to highlight the neglected physical agency in clothing. Clothing’s agency is both physical and aesthetical. Neither of the aspects can be subordinate, nor superior, since clothes consist equally of both. Following the theories, clothing’s agency is being acknowledged through the encounters with humans. However, the results in this thesis show that clothing’s agency is ever present.