Sultonia: Clothing
Sultonians are survivalists and explorers, living on an early-development planet that isn’t fully terraformed or set up with large-scale production like elsewhere. They have to prioritise where resources are best spent, mending clothes and making full use of everything they have, and have no time to harvest dyes when they could instead be harvesting food. Imported goods are a rarity and highly prized, though a Sultonian with off-world clothing is much more likely to have been gifted it rather than bought it themselves.
Overview
Dress code: Warm layers and dull, natural colours – Sultonians don’t have much access to, or time for, bright artificial dyes. Think leather and ponchos, and a hard-wearing survivalist’s gear. Bags, pouches, belts and bandoliers. Goggles and dust masks.
Possibilities: Go for medals, trinkets, dog tags – symbols of a life before settling on Sultonia – and mix them with tokens of life on the frontier: perhaps a good-luck charm made by an old flame, or a sprig from your family’s first harvest stuck in your hatband.
Avoid: Post-apocalyptic doesn’t suit Sultonia – it’s a planet starting out, not a world after the end. Try not to go too “wild west” either – a Stetson on its own is fine, but make sure your kit fits a few centuries into the future rather than the past!
Stereotypical Look: Worn-Down Explorer
The most common garments for Sultonians are well worn and handmade, suited to their dust-covered home.
- Cloak: made from canvas or wool, the cloak or poncho is an iconic garment for Sultonias, protecting their head and torso from the elements. At a minimum, Sultonians will wear a scarf, neckerchief or shemagh they can quickly use to cover their mouth.
- Sturdy coat: a sturdy leather or canvas coat, short or long, in beige or brown tones. These items are customised by each wearer, repaired with patches to keep it usable for generations, and handed down as a memento or when the owner has outgrown it. New, clean patchless coats are a sign of wealth.
- Knee pads and gloves: these simple protective items are worn almost universally.
- Base layers: cream, beige, brown, full yellow or khaki base garments are ideal.
Accessories
- Embroidery, fabric patches, and beads from natural materials are sewn together onto garments or turned into jewellery or good luck charms.
- Small off-world accessories, and items from the generation who first settled on Sultonia, are handed down within families.
Makeup
- Makeup and tattoos are not as common as on other planets, with makeup saved for notable events.
Designing Groups
- Sultonians have more personalised outfits, and won’t change their look much to fit in with a group. That said, if they do wish to show a group allegiance, they’ll use one of the rare scraps of colourful fabric as a scarf, arm wrap, or elsewhere on their outfit, with everyone wearing it the same way.
Design Caution
- Sultonians have to make do and mend, but are explicitly not a post-apocalyptic culture. Small sections of costume and armour may be recognisably recycled from other garments or machinery, but the planet has sufficient industry to make a lot of items from scratch. Avoid high-concept post-apoc elements better suited for Kessler.
- Use bright colours sparingly. Sultonia rarely produces any plant-based dye, as they’re focussed on food and cotton production instead. Imported dyes are a sign of status, but can be easily seen as a frivolous and wasteful use of finances.