When the Inuit lived exclusively from the land, caribou and seals were the main sources of clothing material. Both provided protection from the harsh Arctic winters.

No part of an animal was wasted. Caribou provided meat and the skin was the best material for making winter clothing because it is very warm. The hair growth is about twice as dense as that on seal skin, and the hollow guard hairs enclose air, providing a high level of insulation against the cold.

Traditional Inuit clothing for the coldest weather consisted of two layers of garments. The inner one had the fur against the skin, the outer one had the fur outside. Not only does the hollow fur itself provide an insulating layer, but the two layers of clothing trap an insulating layer of air between them.

Of course, caribou skin was usually one of the few materials available. The textiles that became available from the European's were not considered by the Inuit to be at all suitable for winter wear - you'd have to put on layers and layers and layers of clothing and you'd STILL be cold!