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Sleeveless versions of the sacred undergarments worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sold out the first day they became available in the U.S., marking a momentous occasion for many women in the faith who say they no longer need to trade comfort to feel closer. God,
Social media on Tuesday was awash with photos of long queues of mostly women waiting for a chance to get inside exclusive clothing stores to try on new items.
Enthusiasm for new garments, typically worn under street clothes, became widely known mormons Church isn’t all about dresses that they can more easily wear over a tank top. The introduction of more breathable fabrics and styles to the typically two-piece white clothing is important, especially for those who struggle to wear them for medical reasons or live in hot climates.
“I think it’s great that they’re considering the needs of women,” said church member Amanda Shirley. salt Lake City Who was shopping for clothes on Tuesday. She knows some women who struggle with old cotton and polyester clothes because of health problems, including gynecological issues.
While the symbolism of the clothing is more important than comfort for Shirley, she’s excited to have a more breathable option. She considers the church’s introduction of the new vestments “forward thinking.”
The church, which has more than 17 million members worldwide, has all-male priests and its top leaders are all men. The highest-ranking women serve on councils that sit several layers of leadership below groups reserved for men only.
Although ridiculed by outsiders, the garments, worn by men and women alike, are comparable to the sacred garments of other religions. They remind Latter-day Saints who visit the temple that they made covenants of obedience, sacrifice, sexual purity and dedication, said Kathleen Fleck, a former professor of Mormon studies at the University of Virginia.
Fleck said the new garments were designed by a group including both men and women of the church. She said, she talked with major lingerie manufacturers to come up with these styles over the past two years.
“They’ve essentially tried to make underwear for the world,” Flake said. “The goal here was to make sure people were comfortable while practicing this aspect of their religion.”
draw long lines on new clothes utah store
State Senator Mike McKell said in a post on X that in Church’s home state of Utah, the lines for new clothes were similar to Black Friday sales.
On Tuesday afternoon a line of mostly women carrying blue shopping baskets snaked into a church-affiliated Deseret Book Store in Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood. Earlier in the day, the line was out the door.
New costumes cost about $4 to $5 each. An employee walked the line with a measuring tape, happily telling customers about the new stretchy fabric, some made of spandex, that she said provides a cooling effect. A sign on the store’s registers announced a limit of 20 items per customer to ensure availability for as many shoppers as possible. By 3 p.m., the store was out of smaller and extra sizes.
When asked why she was excited about the new clothes, one shopper, Jenny Skinner, simply said, “I sweat a lot!”
While there is a way to buy new apparel online, many shoppers told The Associated Press they wanted a chance to try on updated styles and sizes before buying.
Clothing changes over time
Fleck, a longtime Mormon expert, said the church has made many stylistic changes to temple garments throughout its history as the way people dress changes. This latest change has been a long time coming because the faith is truly global and this must be taken into account by everyone who practices it, he said.
“This change reflects the Church’s accountability to make clothing as comfortable as possible for the most people,” Flake said.
This is why clothing was first introduced to other parts of the world where it was a more practical necessity, including warmer climates and where women commonly wore dresses. Sleeveless tops, skirt bottoms, and one-piece shifts were already available Africa and the Philippines, according to the church’s online store.
Daniel Walker rushes to buy new clothes before leaving for missionary training on Wednesday. She said she is excited to try the new tank top style, which she hopes will be more comfortable in the warmer months while serving her mission in Roseville, California. The current costumes may be hot, but he said he has gotten used to them.
He said a friend serving a mission in Africa was able to get the sleeveless dresses there before they became available in the U.S. and encouraged Walker to buy them as soon as they hit shelves stateside.
The missionary in Grantsville, 37 miles (59 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City, said he gets frustrated when people who are not members of the faith joke that Latter-day Saints wear “magical underwear.” He hopes that by talking openly about his spiritual importance, he can help reduce some of the stigma.
“I feel like sometimes people act like it’s a secret or something that we need to hide,” Walker said. “But to me, it’s just something that reminds me of the promises I made with God, and so I don’t feel like it’s something I should keep a secret.”
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Bharat reported from Los Angeles and Mayer from Nashville, Tennessee.
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Associated Press religion coverage is supported by the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is solely responsible for this content.