Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
Trousers: they’re the leg-engulfing garments that, today, most cold to temperate weather societies take for granted as the most practical way to cover your lower body. Given their modern ubiquity, one might assume that, as long as there have been people, there have been pants. However, any combination of cloaks, short skirts, leggings, loin cloths and more have been favoured by various cultures across time. And, as this entertaining video from the German Archeological Institute explores, until recently, their origins were a historical mystery.
The Invention of Trousers is a surprisingly epic journey into the history of clothing, tracing an archeological discovery at the Yanghai cemetery in Turfan, western China, where what might just be the oldest known pair of pants were found inside an immaculately preserved grave. The find launched an ambitious project by an international team of archeologists, scientists and even fashion designers to unlock the mysteries of these centuries-old (but still quite stylish) trousers, by reverse-engineering them from scratch. More than just a fascinating dive into history, the documentary doubles as a celebration of the incredible expertise and teamwork necessary for unravelling the ancient past.
Director: Mayke Wagner
Writers: Mayke Wagner, Pavel Tarasov
Website: German Archaeological Institute
video
Social psychology
What happened when a crypto scam swept over a sleepy town in the Caucasus
18 minutes
video
Gender
A catchy tune explains the world’s ‘isms’ – according to your mum doing the laundry
5 minutes
video
Architecture
A 3D rendering of the Colosseum captures its architectural genius and symbolic power
17 minutes
video
Human rights and justice
Surreal, dazzling visuals form an Iranian expat’s tribute to defiance back home
10 minutes
video
Language and linguistics
Do button-pushing dogs have something new to say about language?
9 minutes
video
Art
When East met West in the images of an overlooked, original photographer
9 minutes
video
Values and beliefs
Why a single tree, uprooted in a typhoon, means so much to one man in Hanoi
7 minutes
video
Consciousness and altered states
‘I want me back’ – after a head injury, Nick struggles with his altered reality
7 minutes
video
Making
On the Norwegian coast, a tree is transformed into a boat the old-fashioned way
6 minutes