A group of researchers argues in a new study published in Science Advances journal that the development of eyed needles as tools 40,000 years ago in Eurasian and African regions marks the birth of “fashion.” This transformative moment saw clothing evolve beyond its practical role of comfort and protection from the elements, gaining social and aesthetic significance. It became a medium for expressing the individual and cultural identity of those who wore it.
Findings regarding clothing in the Paleolithic period (2.5 million – 10,000 BCE) are minimal and mainly consist of stone tools for processing animal skin.
The earliest known eyed needles, thin with a hole at the top for threading, were discovered in Siberia and trace back to the Stone Age. Their construction was notably more challenging than simple bone awls (animal bones sharpened to a point) used for basic clothing adjustments. Sewing needles marked an advancement in creating more intricate garments, often embellished with beads and other small ornaments.
The team behind the research argues that clothing became an object of decoration because traditional body adornment methods, such as painting on the body and scarification, were not possible in the latter part of the Ice Age in colder parts of Eurasia, as people had to wear clothing continuously to survive.
