Are we ready for gloves to return?
Not sure about you, but I’ve been wondering recently about whether gloves could become popular in this world of social distancing and precaution. So I’ve done a little research on the topic…
Initially gloves were worn for warmth and protection so they were traditionally worn by anyone working manually, particularly outdoors. They have been around for a very long time; according to Encyclopaedia Britannica, a pair of well-formed drawstring gloves were found in the tomb of Egyptian king, Tutankhamen from 14 century BC!
Gloves are also a guard against sunburn, and accounts for why they became popular items to wear even throughout summer by people not performing manual work. Once the sewing machine was invented, gloves increased in popularity. In the twentieth century they peaked as a fashion item in the 1950s and have been worn predominantly for practical purposes ever since.
Interestingly, Queen Elizabeth was photographed wearing gloves to greet people around the time Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19. This piqued my interest because she does not usually wear gloves these days and I began to wonder if we should all return to wearing gloves.
According to the European Standards (which Australian standards are based on) gloves need to satisfy EN 374 to be guaranteed not to absorb micro bacteria. As you can imagine, this type of glove is more practical than fashionable. Any kind of fabric or woollen glove will not stand the test. In fact, cotton gloves are highly absorbent.
However, I love playing with a fashion accessory so I do wear leather gloves when shopping now but I am careful not to touch my face using my gloved hand and I remove them when I reach my car.
The most important thing to remember, if you decide to wear gloves for hygienic reasons, is NOT to substitute them for washing your hands thoroughly. They may offer a little protection but washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and hot water is the best protection against germs.
Hats and gloves; do you anticipate a return to them??
Vintage gloves by Paolo Naomi