Today, different types as well as styles of hand gloves depending on their purposes are available in the market. This item which has been a part of human’s culture since prehistoric times is generally defined as a hand covering that have separate sections for each of the fingers and the thumb that extends part way up of the hand. The commonly seen include leather gloves and the mittens which are used for household chores.
Gloves as abovementioned were used since prehistoric times. These were used by cavemen to protect their hands from acquiring wounds and hand injuries when they are doing rough and uncomfortable tasks. Early forms of gloves were designed like crude mittens which have fingers and a gauntlet that covers the forearm. During the 12th century, these hand coverings were called “glove” which comes from the English word “glof”. They do really have rich history, however, the inventor of this item was never known.
Over the years that followed, gloves have been used for a host of other purposes. Royalties and dignitaries of England, for example, wore jeweled and embroidered fabric and leather gloves as a badge of distinction after the Norman Conquest. For nearly 800 years, it became custom in England to use them to challenge personal battle. By the 14th Century, gloves were widely used by upper-classmen. By the 16th Century, they were recognized women fashionable by the queen consort of Henry II of France, Catherine de Mdicis. Today, they come in a multitude of styles and types depending on the purpose of their use.
There are generally six categories of gloves namely: winter, industrial, sports, stylish, white, and general. As the name suggests, winter gloves are those used to protect the wearer from the cold winters. As was aforementioned, the early forms of gloves were crude mittens used by cavemen as protection from the cold weather conditions of the North. Industrial gloves, on the other hand, are those used for protection in industrial sites. Styles included in this category are heat resistant, demolition style, cryogenic, metal guard, and utility styles. Alternatively, sports gloves, as the name suggests, are the ones used in sports activities. Among the number of sports events that use them are baseball, cycling, fencing, and hockey.
Another category are stylish gloves. As was earlier stated, they have been used to accentuate one’s fashion style. Among the popular stylish ones are Queen Elizabeth I’s gloves displayed in the Ashmolean Museum, Michael Jackson’s iconic Swarovski crystal studded glove, and leather gloves used in operas during the Napoleonic/Regency Era. White gloves, on the other hand, are those often used in restaurants and hotels by the hospitality staff to show class and unity. Lastly, gloves categorized as a general type are those that are used for a host of other purposes. Examples of these are oven mitts and those used when washing dishes.
History saw man’s obsession with a covered hand though very few remain today. Nonetheless, leather gloves and other styles are still important pieces of clothing that are used today for a variety of purposes.
Lorenzo Mitchell is a glove collector from London, England. Mitchell’s collection range from 12th Century leather gloves (Lederhandschuhe in German) to Michael Jackson’s signature Swarovski studded gloves.
