Anglo-Saxon Dress

In this episode, we explore Anglo-Saxon dress through the fabrics, dyes, garments, footwear, and military equipment that shaped everyday appearance and social identity. Drawing on experimental archaeology and reconstruction evidence, we examine how craftspeople recreated historical colors using native plants, clubmoss, oak galls, and other organic materials, while surviving images and artifacts reveal how clothing was cut, fastened, layered, and worn. We also trace the transformation of textile production from household weaving into a more specialized, urban, and increasingly male-dominated industry following the introduction of the horizontal treadle loom. Together, these developments show that Anglo-Saxon clothing was not merely practical or decorative, but closely connected to technological innovation, changing labor roles, status, and the growth of a market economy.