Traditionally soapstone, animal bone, and teeth were the most prevalent, but after European contact, items like coins, bullet casings, and even spoons were used as decorations. The most common sources of hide for Inuit clothing are caribou and seals, caribou being preferred for general use. For both men and women's clothing, gores and slits allowed for parkas to be donned rapidly, and hoods were constructed to provide warmth while minimizing loss of peripheral vision. Once the seamstress was satisfied that each piece was the appropriate size and shape, the pieces were sewn together to make the complete garment.

Interviews with Qikirtamiut seamstresses in the late 1980s found they sought similar attributes when deciding which bird skins to use and where. The SkinBase Project: Providing 3D Virtual Access to Indigenous Skin Clothing Collections from the Circumpolar Area".The skins were then marked for cutting, traditionally by biting or pinching, or with an edged tool, although in modern times ink pens may be used. Insulation and heat conservation: Clothing worn in the Arctic must be warm, especially during the winter, when the polar night phenomenon means the sun never rises and temperatures can drop below −40°C (−40°F) for weeks or months.

In places where larger animals were scarce, such as Alaska and Greenland, the skins of small animals like marmots and Arctic ground squirrels were sewn together to make parkas. Women's Skin Coats from West Greenland – with Special Focus on Formal Clothing of Caribou Skin from the Early Nineteenth Century". Construction and maintenance [ edit ] Inuit women wearing Mother Hubbard parkas scraping a caribou hide with their uluit (woman's knives). Each one has a waterproof cover, so you won’t get wet if it rains and it will stop the wind-breaking through and giving you a chill.Each garment was individually tailored to the wearer's body with complex techniques including darts, gussets, gathers, and pleats.

Amulets made of skin and animal parts were worn for protection and luck, and to invest the wearer with the powers of the associated animal or spirit. All clothing, especially footwear, was checked daily for damage and repaired immediately if any was discovered. In many places, long, resilient hairs from wolves, dogs, or wolverines was used for hood trim, which reduced wind velocity on the face.The loose shoulders also permitted a hunter to pull their arms out of the sleeves and into the coat against the body for warmth without taking the coat off. The use of bird skins has been documented across all Inuit groups, although it was most common in the eastern and western Arctic, where larger animals like caribou were less available, compared to the central Arctic. It was believed that the spirits of polar bears remained within the skin after death for several days. In addition to their everyday clothing, many Inuit had a set of ceremonial clothing made of short-haired summer skins, worn for dancing or other ceremonial occasions. For this reason, most garments, especially boots, were constructed from as few pieces as possible to minimize the number of seams, which in turn minimized heat loss.

Traditional Inuit culture divided labour by gender, and men and women wore garments tailored to accommodate their distinct roles. Archaeological and artistic evidence since the 15th century documents the evolution of the visual style of garments. With the same warmth provided by a snug rug blanket on the inside, the snug rug outdoor will keep you dry and warm. The British Museum in London holds some of the world's oldest surviving Inuit fur clothing, and the collection of the National Museum of Denmark is one of the most extensive in the world. Instead, it was repurposed as bedding or work clothing, or taken apart and used to repair newer garments.When traders brought rolls of colourful fabric trim, the Iñupiat incorporated pieces of it into qupak. Incorporating modern techniques and purchasing materials commercially reduces the time and effort needed for garment production, lowering barriers for entry.