To the uninitiated, boiler suits represent nothing more than a piece of utilitarian uniform, likely worn when engaging in menial tasks for all-round comfort and protection. Oh, how wrong you would be in thinking so lowly of the women’s boilersuit, for its historical sartorial significance is simply unrivalled.
The history of the boilersuit traces back to 18th-century coal workers during the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. However, the uniform was quickly adopted by female munitions workers during the Second World War when they took to factories to manage the workforce shortage due to the ongoing draft.
