The Apache Tribe was a hunter-gatherer people that relied on animal skins for their clothing. As time went on, their clothing changed with different influences from Europe, Mexico, and America.
Clothing also depended on trade, which is why there were multiple influences throughout their history.
Women's Clothing and Hair
Apache women wore buckskin dresses, and over time, that progressed to calico skirts and dresses.
This change was due to Mexican influence.
While the fabric may have changed, the Apache decorated their clothing the same way, regardless of the era. They often decorated their dresses with beaded designs that held a symbolism to their tribe.
Women usually wore their hair long and loose or gathered into a bun. Young women would use a nah-leen to fasten their hair.
Men's Clothing and Hair
Before the 19th century, the Apache men wore leather shirts and breechcloths, and by the 1800s, they wore white cotton tunics and pants.
Warriors would also decorate their clothing with symbolic beaded designs.
Men would usually cut their hair at shoulder length, with the exception of the Plains Apache Tribe, who grew their hair long.
Both genders wear shell jewelry.
War and Ceremonial Clothing
Warriors did not traditionally wear feather warbonnets, although the Plains Apaches did adopt headdresses from their friends, the Kiowas. Most Apache tribes wore leather or cloth headbands.
Ceremonial clothing was slightly different. The Apache people would often wear special wooden masks and headdresses.
Face paint depended on the type of ceremony and differed if they were going to battle.