Clothing from East Greenland III. The principles of polar clothing

Air-capture principle
In polar clothing, the 'air-capture principle' (the retention of warm air) is extremely important. The air inside the clothing is warmed by the wearer's own body. It is essential to prevent this warm air from escaping.

The clothing worn immediately next to the bare skin is always loose. Fur garments are worn with the hair inside. The space between the body and the clothing is filled with an insulating layer of air, which also ensures evaporation of the body's humidity. Over these undergarments there is a second layer of fur clothing, the outer garments. This time the fur is worn outside. Between the two layers of fur there remains a small, insulating space, also filled with air.

The design of the clothing also has a role to play in insulating the wearer's body. Thus a closed jacket without a front fastening retains heat better than an open jacket. A hood attached to a jacket has much the same effect. [4] The length and shape of the garments also contributes to their effectiveness; long coats retain the warm air as in a tube. [5]
 

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