Native American Clothing at Mission San Gabriel (18th Century)

At Mission San Gabriel Arcángel (founded 1771, present-day San Gabriel, CA), the Tongva (Gabrielino) people wore a mix of traditional and mission-issued clothing. Historical and archaeological records indicate:

Men

• Traditional: Loincloth/breechclout (deerskin or woven fiber), knee-length buckskin leggings, woven fur sash/belt, moccasins. Rabbit-fur or deerskin cloaks for cold.
• Adornments: Bone/shell necklaces, feathered headbands, bone/shell/bead earrings.
• Mission-issued: Woolen shirts, cotton trousers, blankets (often ill-fitting, distributed seasonally).

Women

• Traditional: Deerskin wrap skirt (knee to ankle), sleeveless deerskin tunic/blouse, woven fur sash, moccasins.
• Ceremonial: Skirts decorated with shell/bead fringe, elaborate hairstyles with feathers, shell/bone earrings.
• Mission-issued: Cotton shifts (chemises), woolen skirts, aprons, rebozos (shawls).

Children

• Young children often unclothed in warm weather.
• Cool weather: small buckskin wrap or poncho.
• Mission-issued: Simple cotton shifts/shirts.

Context

The Franciscans imposed European modesty standards, but supply shortages meant traditional garments persisted, especially outside the mission compound. Tongva weaving (basketry, rabbit-skin blankets) was highly developed. By the 1810s, Mexican-era secularization brought Mexican-style clothing (serapes, calzones, reatas) into the mix.