2.1. History High-ranking ancient Egyptians wore ostrich feathers in their hair as a symbol of allegiance to the goddess of truth and balance. The act of adorning the body with elements of nature like feathers, pelts, and leafs was viewed as a way of honoring protective qualities of the land across ancient cultures around the world. Native Americans, where feathers served as symbols of high honor. Indigenous Americans have historically utilized feathers as a way of marking accomplishments with significance and style varying from tribe to tribe. Feathers became a staple of attire in 12th-century Italy during Venice’s annual Carnival celebration leading up to Lent. Venetians would wear papier-mâché masks wildly decorated with feathers to conceal one’s identity during the festivities. Also in the Middle Ages the accessory carried its signi-
ficance as a clothing item that indicated social importance.
time, the longterm effects were not considered.
By the 18th century, wearing feathers was almost completely feminized. During her reign as Queen of France, leading trendsetter and pomp extraordinaire Marie Antoinette popularized her signature pouf hairstyle triggering a wave of women to adopt the same. It was fashionable to decorate the sky high “toque” (thick cushion) up-do with pearls, hair jewelry, and feathers for some serious accessorizing.
Ornithologist Frank Chapman noted that the plumage of as many as 40 species of birds was used on the hats he observed around New York City, contributing to severe losses in bird populations. This led to the passing of the Lacey Act in 1900, a conservation law prohibiting wildlife trade that largely collapsed the ornamental feather market.
Feathers as fashion reached an all time peak during the plume trade of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, as feathers became more of a commercialized style demonstrated across different trends of the time. This boom gave rise to an industry of milliners who created extravagant feather-adorned hats. While feathered headpieces were trendy during this
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