This watercolour, painted by a German who emigrated to Canada a few years after the Conquest, provides information on the colonial clothing trade. Several of the Amerindians in the upper part of the illustration wear European-style clothing; they were quick to adopt many of the manners of dress introduced by the Whites. MontrÄal had a large number of men and women working in their homes in order to produce shirts and coats for the fur trade. Examine the clothing of the Whites in the lower section of this work and attempt to identify their roles in the colonial society. Apart from homespun and some cloth, all fabrics were imported from France and sold by merchants to the habitants who sewed their own clothing. People did not buy whatever clothing caught their fancy, as we frequently do nowadays. A young woman began her marriage with a wardrobe which she knew would have to last for many years. The tailors and dressmakers in the towns worked for those who could afford to keep up with European fashions.
