Why do we dress the dead in everyday clothes we find in our closets?
Given that death is life’s final milestone, shouldn’t there be a fashion category called “death wear” the same way we have “bridal wear”?
Bridal wear has meaning and ritual. Historically, the white bejewelled dresses represented purity and brought to life the Cinderella story, a young woman finding her Prince Charming. A dated image for sure, but today it’s still a rite of passage to shop for the perfect wedding gown.
Could one’s final outfit be viewed in a similar manner - designed to show meaning and reverence, part of the journey to whatever place follows our life on Earth?
For centuries, burial shrouds played this role. What if, in modern day, we adopted the practice of shrouding the body for all funeral ceremonies, regardless of the disposition method? Call it the Last Garment and make this its sole purpose. Only the dead can don a shroud, the same way only the bride wears white on her wedding day.
A shroud offers dignity, sophistication and deep significance. There is ritual and symbolism involved in its preparation. A gently wrapped shroud is reminiscent of a soft cocoon, protecting our beloveds as they pass to an unknown new world.
There’s also the environmental angle which must be highlighted. Shrouds are biodegradable, whereas many day clothes are not. By choosing to be buried or cremated in a shroud we are keeping synthetics out of the earth, like with other sustainable fashion choices.
Burial shrouds should be in a “responsible death wear” category of their own. Every little bit we can do for our planet helps.