What Kind of Clothing Did Native Americans Wear at Mission San Juan Capistrano?

Traditional Attire at Mission San Juan Capistrano

The Acjachemen (Juaneño) people at Mission San Juan Capistrano wore clothing crafted from local plant fibers and animal materials, adapted for the Southern California climate and mission life.

Materials

• Yucca fiber – processed into cordage and woven fabric.
• Tule (bulrush) – woven into mats, skirts, capes.
• Animal skins – deer, rabbit, sea otter for warmth and ceremony.
• Feathers, shells, beads, seeds – for decoration and status.

Men's Clothing

• Breechclout: Rectangular strip of woven fiber or skin, passed between legs and belted at waist.
• Poncho / Cape: Tule or skin, worn over shoulders for warmth.
• Leggings: Skin or woven, tied at waist (for brush/cold).
• Headwear: Feather headdresses, net caps for ceremony.

Women's Clothing

• Tunic / Apron Skirt: Two-panel woven fiber (front/back) or tule, belted at waist, reaching knees.
• Shawl / Cape: Rabbit-skin blankets, tule capes, or woven mantles.
• Skirts: Fringed tule or fiber, sometimes double-layered.

Adornment (Both Sexes)

• Beadwork: Olivella shell beads (disk, saucer), clamshell beads, steatite beads.
• Feathers: Quail, hawk, flicker, condor – on headdresses, skirts, ear ornaments.
• Body Art: Tattooing (chin, arms), face/body paint (ochre, charcoal).

Mission-Era Changes

Under mission rules, neophytes were often issued coarse wool or cotton blankets, smocks, and trousers, but many retained traditional garments for daily wear and ceremonies.