National Dress Reform Association facts for kids

The National Dress Reform Association (NDRA) was an American group that supported changing women's clothing. This group was active from 1856 to 1865. They believed that the popular fashion of the time, known as Victorian dress reform, was unhealthy for women.

The National Dress Reform Association

The National Dress Reform Association, or NDRA, was started in February 1856. A man named James Caleb Jackson, who believed in using water for health (a hydropathist), founded it.

Why Was the NDRA Formed?

Many members of the NDRA were hydropathists. They thought that women's clothing, like tight corsets and heavy skirts, was bad for their health. They wanted women to wear more comfortable and practical clothes. One popular style they supported was called Bloomers. These were loose trousers gathered at the ankle, often worn under a shorter dress.

The NDRA also received support from other groups. Health and sports organizations agreed that current fashion was unhealthy. The women's movement of that time also supported the NDRA. They believed women should have more freedom, including in what they wore. Some religious groups also joined, as they disliked the fancy and often expensive fashions of the day.

How Did They Spread Their Message?

The NDRA worked hard to share its ideas. They published information about healthy clothing. They also organized exhibitions and speeches to show people new styles and explain why they were better.

For the first few years, their campaign was very popular. People from almost every state joined the group.

A woman named Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck started a magazine called The Sibyl. This magazine became the main publication for the NDRA. Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck was a member of the NDRA and later became its president from 1863 to 1865. Her magazine even printed the names of nearly a thousand women across the country who had started wearing the new reform dress.

What Happened to the NDRA?

Despite its early popularity, the campaign to change women's fashion did not fully succeed. The National Dress Reform Association eventually closed down in 1865. However, the idea of dress reform did not disappear. A new group, the American Free Dress League, continued the effort in 1874.