The Nova Scotia Museum of Industry, in Stellarton, N.S., has a new exhibit which explores the styles and uses of aprons.
The new exhibit is called Cover Up and features more than 200 aprons, along with several museum artifacts.
Over the years, aprons were household staples, providing protection, style, and memories that last a lifetime.
“We have a board here where people have written their own recollections of aprons that their mothers and grandmothers perhaps wore. They're very personal items in a lot of ways. Women have worn them of course in the kitchen, but worn at work in a variety of ways as well,” says museum curator Andrew Philips.
Work aprons would often be made of leather or rubber, to protect the wearer from flying pieces of metal, glass, or other objects.
“The dental apron here is something that would be worn by a patient in the dentist's office during a dental x-ray,” says Philips.
Then there are the aprons that have been used for ceremonial purposes, by fraternal organizations like the Masons or Odd Fellows. Their markings have changed very little over the years, unlike home aprons, which have changed as much as those who wore them.
“They are in some ways, quaint and old fashioned,” says Phillips. “The style of aprons in the home, especially, change especially over the years. The 1950s, we like to think is the golden age of the half apron, but even today, I've got my own apron at home that I like to wear in the kitchen.”
The aprons will be on display at the museum until October 15.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh
