When looking at the photo you quickly realize the workers from 100 years ago are wearing bib overalls just like many workers do today. Think of the changes in how we do our jobs, the tools and the technology behind all of it and then you just have to laugh at how this piece of work clothing,the men’s denim bib overalls, has not become outdated.
Overalls date back to the 18th century and were first called “slops,” according to costume historian Sandra Ros Altman.
Overalls have clothed Americans at work and play since the 1700s, becoming a national icon in the process.
Farmers, carpenters, railroad and factory workers adopted bib overalls as their uniform praising its deep and numerous pockets designed to hold tools of all shapes and sizes. The design allowed for freedom of movement in almost any work situation. It was this uniform that became a symbol of America’s fighting spirit as the country struggled to rebuild itself after the devastating stock market crash of 1929.
early 1900s. Railroad workers sit on a handcar