Study Of The Characteristics Of The Totem In The National Dress

Originating from primitive society, totem is a culture with strong national characteristics. Being a platform for totem culture, apparel is deeply influenced by this culture. In fact, any national apparel with impressive characteristics is unalienable from its totem worship. Unique traditional formation, mysterious colors and totem symbols all give designers inspirations, which will be transformed into masterpieces for the new century. It is worthwhile to combine national characteristics with contemporary trends and seek new feelings from totem formulas, and thus rethink the possibilities of employing these feelings in modern apparel designs.This thesis, based on analyses of relevant materials, fully introduces the history of totem and its impacts on the development of apparel. It deals with the features of totem as elements in a few national apparels, and summarizes its design values. What's more, this papers analyzes some masterpieces by a few great designers and indicates how to make a better use of totem elements in contemporary designs.This thesis not only gives comprehensive analyses of totem characteristics in different language systems, and introduces design values in pictures, colors, formation and texture in the design of national apparels, but presents the author's opinion for updating totem element in designs. The key points of this thesis centers around the analyses of totem features and their values in the design of national apparels. In order to set up a comprehensive totem system, the author has checked a large number of materials, carried out surveys and undertaken comparisons.As far as the author knows, the number of works on the contribution of totem to national apparels is limited. Therefore, this study of the role played by totem in the design of national apparels can find both historic and cultural values, and thus enriches the theory on national apparel studies.