Black is the old black

Posted by noelbynature under Lifestyle, Traditions
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They say black goes with everything… but people from the older generation often shun the colours black because of its association with death (and also, in this weather black becomes mighty hot!). If you look into your closet, you’ll probably have a black shirt or two for every day use. However, Chinatownboy remembers a time when you had to dye your shirts black for a special (and sad) occasion.

CC image by flckrbest

Long ago, at this corner of Kreta Ayer Rd and New Bridge Road, facing the Oriental Theatre across Kreta Ayer Rd, was a small shop. It’s specialty was to dye any clothing to black.

It was a time when black was not the fashionable dress or clothing as most Asians, if not, Chinese, considered it as one of mourning. Indeed this was the shop that dyed clothing of any colour to black for those in mourning.

In the old days, when someone in the family died, all were expected to wear black. For some, like the children of the deceased, wearing back might be expected for a longer period of time. Mourning period could last (or is expected to last) for 3 years. It is unlikely that anyone had black clothing in those days. And so, if there was such a bereavement in the family, getting some clothing to be dyed black was one of the priorities.

Read about the practice of dyeing one’s clothes black in Die & Dye.