Theodore Brasser was a curator at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (now the Canadian Museum of History), professor of art history at Carleton University and professor of anthropology at Trent University. He has written extensively for American Indian Art magazine and numerous museum and scholarly publications.

Native Americans crafted beautiful clothing out of skins, pigment, quills and sinew. The collection of photographs in this outstanding reference celebrates this decorative genius. Many of the 300 photographs from more than 60 leading museums and private collections have never been published previously.

The book describes the clothing in fascinating detail, from moccasins and tunics to sashes, bags and ceremonial and burial costumes. Theodore Brasser describes different kinds of decoration, such as beadwork, embroidery, appliqué, patchwork, weaving and dyeing. There are also many examples of native pottery and other historic artifacts that depict themes used in the clothes.

Native American Clothing provides a historical background to this clothing. The book covers the North American continent and is organized as follows: Southeast, Southwest, Northern east coast, Plateau/desert, Eastern Great Lakes, California, Eastern sub-Arctic, Northwest coast, Great Lakes, Western sub-Arctic, Plains, and Arctic. Numerous maps show the ranges of the tribes and convey how trade and travel spread cultural themes.

This book contains full-colour and black-and-white photographs throughout, further reading, maps, index.