The Inuit people originally lived along the northern Alaska coast, eventually migrating to other areas around the North Pole, including Canada, Siberia and Greenland. Although most contemporary Inuit people live indoors and wear store-bought clothing, garments made of watertight skins and furs enabled early Inuit people to survive in the bitter cold climate. Construction of traditional Inuit clothing required highly developed skills passed down from generation to generation. Garments were often decorated with shells, stones, ivory, beads or small animal bones.

The Inuit people relied on anoraks -- knee-length outer garments much like parkas -- to keep them warm. Although anoraks and pants were sometimes made from the skin of polar bears, fox or wolves, they were usually constructed of caribou skin because the short, hollow hairs of the animal made warm, lightweight garments. The thickness of a caribou pelt depends on the season, which allowed the Inuit people to make anoraks suitable for every time of year. Women's anoraks had apron-like flaps in front and back, as well as a baby pouch called an amaut, which kept an infant next to his mother's skin. The roomy shoulders of men's anoraks allowed freedom of motion for hunting. Garments made of waterproof sealskin were often worn during warmer weather.

Often Inuits dressed in layers. One garment, with the fur facing the skin, was covered by an anorak with the fur facing outward. Although the women usually wore pants made of only one layer, men's pants consisted of two layers to keep them warm on long hunting expeditions. Pants and anoraks with single layers were sufficient during warmer weather.

Anorak hoods were finished with wolf or wolverine fur, which protected the wearer's face from snow and ice. During the summer, Inuit people often wore waterproof hats made from sealskin. For special events, Inuits decorated their headwear with beads, animal teeth and claws or other items such as ermine skin or loon skin with the bird's beak intact.

Inuit people wore fur or sealskin mittens with thumbholes, trimmed in caribou belly fur. Footwear could be up to five layers depending on the season. Basic footwear consisted of a thin animal skin liner worn much like a stocking, a fur boot and a waterproof outer covering. Waterproof sealskin boots were worn throughout the year. A layer of dried moss and grass placed in the sole of the footwear helped absorb perspiration.

Children wore single piece garments that kept the youngsters' backs and bellies covered. The pants of the garments were split in the crotch area so the child could take care of bathroom needs without baring his skin. The hoods of children's garments were often constructed from the back part of a caribou head, often with the ears left intact.