The origin of aprons was practicality - in years gone by, people didn"t have the luxury of owning extensive wardrobes, and washing of clothing was not done on a frequent basis.

Aprons served a practical purpose - they covered up the dress underneath and protected it from soiling, and made washing easier - you could wash the apron or smock every couple of days, but wore the dress underneath 4-5 days or a week. As well as being practical, they served a decorative purpose, and could be themed to the seasons. Housewives, school teachers, children, shop-keepers, even secretaries all wore various styles of aprons over their clothing daily.

In the 1920"s and "30"s aprons followed the silhouette of the dress - long, with no waist line. By the 1940"s, aprons gained a cinched waistline, and were often gaily trimmed with rick-rack, buttons, and pockets of contrasting color.

In the 1950"s half- aprons of highly starched cotton organdy (sheer, see- through) trimmed with lace were popular for special occasions, as well as two- piece aprons and short smocks of bright cotton prints for every day.

Although the more rugged utilitarian aprons are still in practical use today, the old-fashioned pretty cotton ones are hard to find. The modern aprons are available in both printed and handstitched designs in a bouquet of appealing colour.

Easy2source.com lists a wide variety of Aprons in different designs and shapes. To view the exhaustive list with information on its suppliers click here.