About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity of British Columbia Press

ISBN-10077480596X

ISBN-139780774805964

eBay Product ID (ePID)6038788426

Product Key Features

Number of Pages224 Pages

Publication NameSinews of Survival : the Living Legacy of Inuit Clothing

LanguageEnglish

SubjectFashion & Accessories, Ethnic Studies / Native American Studies

Publication Year1997

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaDesign, Social Science

AuthorBetty Kobayashi Issenman

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.7 in

Item Weight24 Oz

Item Length10 in

Item Width8.5 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN98-127338

Reviews... generous and comprehensive work ... a breathtaking gallop athrough the world of aboriginal fur fashion ... a serious academic treatment of a complex and difficult subject, but it's easy to forget the footnotes, indexes and glosses, and lose oneself in the hundreds of illustrations ... a great deal here to interest lovers of art and fashion ... The next time a gale of horizontal sleet comes sweeping down from the north, give some thought to how our ancestors managed to stay warm before the invention of Gore-tex. Issenman's Sinews of Survival has all the answers., With in-depth research supplemented by numerous detailed black-and-white photos and pattern drawings, Issenman presents an excellent overview of how Inuit (Eskimo) clothing embodies social, artistic, and spiritual values of peoples in four circumpolar areas....Extensive bibliography and useful glossary - B.B. Chico, Regis University , Choice, March 1998, Vol 35, No. 7 ... generous and comprehensive work....a breathtaking gallop athrough the world of aboriginal fur fashion....a serious academic treatment of a complex and difficult subject, but it's easy to forget the footnotes, indexes and glosses, and lose oneself in the hundreds of illustrations....a great deal here to interest lovers of art and fashion.... The next time a gale of horizontal sleet comes sweeping down from the north, give some thought to how our ancestors managed to stay warm before the invention of Gore-tex. Issenman's Sinews of Survival has all the answers. - Robin McGrath, Sunday Telegram, April 5, 1998 Makes [the story of continent-wide migrations, adaptations to harsh environments, and dramatic climate change come alive. ... This most enjoyable book tells a tale of epic proportions and will appeal to anyone with an interest in the North and its history. - John Wilson, Quill & Quire, Makes [the] story of continent-wide migrations, adaptations to harsh environments, and dramatic climate change come alive ... This most enjoyable book tells a tale of epic proportions and will appeal to anyone with an interest in the North and its history., With in-depth research supplemented by numerous detailed black-and-white photos and pattern drawings, Issenman presents an excellent overview of how Inuit (Eskimo) clothing embodies social, artistic, and spiritual values of peoples in four circumpolar areas ... Extensive bibliography and useful glossary.

IllustratedYes

Table Of ContentIntroduction 1 The Inuit: Time, Space 2 From Earth, Sea, and Sky 3 Tools and Techniques 4 Inuit Style 5 Spiritual, Social, and Artistic Traditions 6 New Explorations Bibiliography Appendix: Inuit Clothing Collections Glossary of Place Names

SynopsisBetty Issenman examines all aspects of winter and summer Inuit clothing, going back 4000 years, with particular emphasis on northern Canadian Inuit. She also describes the kinds of material and tools used to make the clothing. The focus is on on Inuit clothing as protection, identity, and culture bearer, roles it has played for thousands of years. No other book brings together contemporary and historical material from the circumpolar worlds with original research. Sinews of Survival is a fascinating study of Inuit clothing, past and present. It includes over 200 illustrations of various kinds of clothing. The voices of the Inuit are heard throughout the text in quotations from consultations and the literature. By describing one component of Inuit society, the author opens a pathway to understanding the culture as a whole., Traditional Inuit attire has been used for protection, a sense of identity, and as culture-bearer for thousands of years. By preserving their clothing traditions, the Inuit celebrate their accomplishments, show pride in being a part of a unique culture, and affirm their lasting connection to the natural and spiritual worlds of their ancestors. Sinews of Survival draws together information about cimcumpolar clothing technologies, styles, and materials from 4000 years ago to the present. In this unique and beautifully illustrated book, Betty Kobayashi Issenman explores the living legacy of Inuit garment use and manufacture. Sinews of Survival summarizes prehistoric finds related to clothing, describes the materials used, their characteristics, and the different items of clothing which are common throughout the circumpolar world. The tools are described at length as well as ingenious ways in which the Inuit prepared the material they harvested from animals, birds, and sea mammals. The text is accompanied by patterns and illustrations of seams and stitches which serve to highlight differences in style from one region tonother and help identify historical clothing of different Inuit groups. The author weaves together Inuit voices, drawings, and writings, giving a glimpse of a rich and layered culture which has survived some of the harshest living conditions in the world while abiding in ecological and spiritual harmony with its environment. While the focus is on the Canadian heritage, ample references to and images of Inuit clothing from Northeastern Siberia, Alaska and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) help readers appreciate commonalities and differences. Written in accessible language with numerous photographs, Sinews of Survival is an important resource for Arctic scholars, anthropologists, and archaeologists, and for the general public it opens a door to Inuit culture.

LC Classification NumberE99.E7I87 1997