Figure 1.-- Even the lederhosen halter could take an enormous amount of rough play. Here the playmate is pulling hard on the braces of his friend's lederhosen, pulling up the shorts against the straps that hold the buttons on. The braces are likely to get pulled hard in play, as they are so easy to grab.

Small boys may wear them for play. They are in fact an ideal play garment. The strong construction of lederhosen means that their wearers do not have to worry about rough and tumble of play, they are resistant to tearing and damage. No boy in lederhosen is likely to come home with torn or ripped tousers. This means that boys do not have to be concerned about ruining his clothes. Today that may not be a major concern, but in the early 20th century when many German families lived in more modest circumstances, thus was a major concerm. The most vulnerable part of the lederhosen was the halter. But even the halter could take an enormous amount of rough play. Here the playmate is pulling hard on the braces of his friend's lederhosen, pulling up the shorts against the straps that hold the buttons on. The braces are likely to get pulled hard in play, as they are so easy to grab. The low maintenance requirements of lederhosen also made them advantageous to mothers before German families washing machines.

Popularity

HBC believes that ledehosen were a popular play garment with German boys. But we have little documentation at this time.

Indestructable

Small boys may wear them for play. They are in fact an ideal play garment. The strong construction of lederhosen means that their wearers do not have to worry about rough and tumble of play, they are resistant to tearing and damage. No boy in lederhosen is likely to come home with torn or ripped tousers.

The indistrutable nature of lederhosen means that boys do not have to be concerned about ruining his clothes. Today that may not be a major concern, but in the early 20th century when many German families lived in more modest circumstances, thus was a major concerm. The most vulnerable part of the lederhosen was the halter.

The Halter

But even thec halter could take an enormous amount of rough play. Here the playmate is pulling hard on the braces of his friend's lederhosen, pulling up the shorts against the straps that hold the buttons on. The braces are likely to get pulled hard in play, as they are so easy to grab.

Low Maintenance

The low maintenance requirements of lederhosen also made them advantageous to mothers before German families washing machines. Although not well understood today, mothers in the early 20th century had to devote great amounts of time and energy to washing clothes and other household chores. A play garment that did not have to be washed was a great advantage.

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Created: July 31, 2001
Last updated: September 5, 2001