Hangers, also referred to as clothes hangers or coat hangers, are clothing hanging devices to assist with the storage of clothes. Hangers are designed to facilitate the storage and hanging of coats, jackets, sweaters, shirts, blouses, or dresses in a manner to prevents wrinkles. The lower bar of Hangers can be used to hang either trousers or skirts.
Some Hangers are designed with a clamp to hold skirts or smaller pieces of content. Hangers were intentionally designed to allow users to quickly access and designate an area for clothing. The 3 basic types of Hangers include Wire Hangers, Wood Hangers, and Plastic Coat Hangers.
Clothes hangers, now a common sight in wardrobes, began as a simple yet ingenious invention. Initially, people just used ropes or poles to hang clothes. In the late 1800s, O.A. North created a shoulder-shaped wire hanger, a big step forward. This design evolved over time, adding lower bars for pants and notches for straps.
Plastic and wooden hangers appeared later, offering durability and aesthetics. Throughout the 20th century, hangers became more sophisticated, with padded and non-slip varieties. From a basic necessity to a closet staple, hangers have evolved to meet our changing clothing storage needs.
The future of clothes hangers is set to be innovative, focusing on sustainability and technology. We're already seeing eco-friendly materials like bamboo and recycled plastics. Smart hangers with digital features may become common, perhaps with built-in sensors to track wardrobe usage or even suggest outfits.
Space-saving designs are on the rise, like ultra-slim, collapsible, or multi-garment hangers, ideal for smaller living spaces. Hangers might also integrate with home automation, adjusting to optimal positions for airing or drying clothes. Overall, expect hangers to become more than just storage solutions, playing a bigger role in managing and caring for our clothes.
Hangers are considered to be good for clothes if they are placed on the correct type of hanger meant for the clothing which considers the silhouette, type of clothing, and material. If clothes are placed on the wrong type of hanger, it can stretch out the material and even warp it beyond repair.
The difference between clothes hangers and suit hangers is that suit hangers are designed to specifically preserve an expensive suit correctly while clothing hangers were designed to hold all types of clothes. Suit hangers are designed with sturdy materials, crease-free features, and embody a shape that can maintain the stiffness of a suit.
The clothes hanger was invented by O.A. North in 1869. He invented the clothes hanger and patented it with the description of a device with a hook on its top sitting on what resembles shoulder supports for clothing to the right and left of the hook. He named the first hanger a clothes hook.