Textile & Fashion

In the Muromachi Period, the standard working person's garment was a sleeveless (or else narrow sleeved) upper piece, and leggings. Over time, the top piece became longer and grew into the kosode, which then obviated the need for leggings. Women adopted full-length, single piece kosode first, tying it closed with a sash. By the end of the Muromachi, this single-piece garment had become prevalent. The style spread to men and children.
Although it was beyond the means of the poorest, better-off women began to wear an over-garment called an uchikake, and sometimes a scarf. When men were being formal, they added a kataginu jacket and hakama. This combination was also worn by both men and women of the military class when they went out. In times of relaxation people were able to be flamboyant and self-expressive in dress, such as at parties.
In terms of hair, the norm for working people was to tie it back. It the Muromachi Period, a style began with the trout fisherwomen of the River Katsura in Miyako (Kyoto), and this was called the 'katsura bun'. Women would tie up their hair in a white cloth.
Footwear was with straw sandals or clogs. For long trips, shoes were made of grass.
People's appearances at this time can be judged from surviving paintings of the 'workmen at their trades' genre. Cotton spread in Muromachi, but it was only in Edo that is was extensively cultivated and became routine. Before that, commoners wore hemp.