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=== Races | Culture ===

====== EXOHUMAN CLOTHING, FASHION, AND TEXTILES IN THE BETA AGE ======

===== Overview =====

The [[beta_age|Beta Age]] marked the first era in [[the_humans|ExoHuman]] history where settlers developed their own distinct fashion traditions, moving beyond the [[last_frontier|Last Frontier’s]] standardized space suits. As ExoHumans adapted to life on [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]], clothing became an essential part of survival, self-expression, and identity in the newly founded [[free_state_of_settlers|Free State of Settlers]].

In the early Beta Age, clothing was shaped by three key factors:

  * **Survival & Practicality:** Settlers needed clothing that could withstand the harsh planetary conditions, especially on the [[dark_side|Dark Side]] and in the wilderness.
  * **Individual Expression:** Unlike the regimented life aboard the Last Frontier, settlers embraced personal styles, creating distinct fashion cultures in different settlements.
  * **Resource Limitations & Innovation:** Without large-scale textile industries, settlers repurposed materials from their space suits, experimented with locally sourced fabrics, and developed VOI 700 D’s first garment production facilities.

While [[new_kourou|New Kourou]] became the center of a growing textile industry, [[Hope|Hope]] and [[Morningstar|Morningstar]] developed a strong DIY culture, crafting their own workwear and casual clothing based on Old [[the_earth|Earth’s]] Wild West aesthetics. Meanwhile, [[Firetown|Firetown’s]] settlers favored durable, heat-retaining garments, often customized with bold patterns and unique insignia.

By the end of the Beta Age, ExoHumans had developed a thriving textile economy, but tensions over supply chains and resource extraction led to conflicts with [[the_natives_tribes_of_voi_700_d|Native Tribes]], foreshadowing future disputes in the [[great_war|Great War]].

===== The Transition from Space Suits to Individualized Clothing =====

At the time of the crash-landing in 2625, every ExoHuman wore a standard-issue Last Frontier space suit. These suits were durable, pressure-sealed, and optimized for spaceship conditions — but ill-suited for long-term planetary life. With no immediate access to new textiles, settlers refurbished and modified their space suits into new garments.

The pioneer of this movement was [[Jeremy Karabulut|Jeremy Karabulut]], a former engineer who established the first sewing shop in New Kourou in April 2625. Karabulut quickly gained a reputation for his ability to transform space suits into practical, wearable clothing. His shop introduced:

  * Reinforced jackets and pants for settlers working in rough terrain.
  * Layered garments better suited for variable temperatures.
  * More flexible and breathable fabrics, allowing settlers greater freedom of movement.

As demand skyrocketed, more settlers copied Karabulut’s methods, and by the end of 2625, six new sewing shops had opened in New Kourou. By 2627, 24 independent sewing shops were operating across all [[exohuman_settlements_in_the_beta_age|four ExoHuman settlements]], each with its own approach to garment modification.

However, space suit refurbishment had limitations—materials were scarce, and color and shape options remained constrained. This led to a new breakthrough: the foundation of the [[Karabulut Garment Manufactory|Karabulut Garment Manufactory]] in the year 2628.

===== The Rise of the Karabulut Garment Manufactory =====

Recognizing the growing demand for new textiles, Jeremy Karabulut expanded his operations in January 2628, founding the Karabulut Garment Manufactory (KGM) in New Kourou. This was the first large-scale textile production facility on VOI 700 D, introducing:

  * New fabrics that were more durable and breathable than repurposed space suit materials.
  * A wider range of colors and styles, moving away from the monochrome look of the Last Frontier.
  * Mass-produced garments, making clothing more affordable for settlers.

The KGM’s textiles soon spread to Firetown, where settlers embraced new tailored coats, heavy boots, and practical riding gear, designed for a frontier society without proper roads. However, the KGM’s supply chains soon led to conflicts with the Native Tribes.

===== The Conflict Over Textiles: The Case of "VOI 700 D Cotton" =====

One of the major innovations of the Beta Age was the discovery of a fibrous plant called [[Hekana|Hekana]] by the Native Tribes and  "VOI 700 D Cotton" among exohuman settlers. This plant grew in select regions of the [[asari|Asari Region]] and was well-adapted to the planet’s ecosystem. Unlike Earth cotton, Hekana was:

  * Resistant to temperature extremes, making it ideal for both [[habitual_belt|Habitual Belt]] and [[dark_side|Dark Side]] clothing.
  * Naturally water-repellent, reducing the need for additional chemical treatments.
  * Fast-growing, allowing for more efficient textile production.

==== Natural Growth & Native Use ====

In its natural state, Hekana grew in scattered clusters along riverbanks, marshlands, and low-lying floodplains where seasonal waters provided rich nutrients. The plant produced long, golden-hued fibers that swayed like tall grasses, with deep purple flowers that marked its harvest season.

For generations, Native Tribes used Hekana in woven garments, ropes, and ceremonial tapestries, but only harvested it sustainably, ensuring its continued regrowth.

==== Expansion of ExoHuman Cotton Fields ====

The Karabulut Garment Manufactory saw the potential of Hekana for large-scale textile production and established the first ExoHuman cotton fields in 2628. These fields were located near Hope, where the plant’s natural habitat made large-scale farming possible. Unlike the scattered, wild-growing patches of the Natives, the ExoHuman fields were geometric and expansive, stretching across hundreds of hectares, with irrigation systems redirecting water sources to maximize growth.

As production expanded, tensions escalated:

  * The cotton fields were being planted on sacred Native lands, disrupting local ecosystems.
  * ExoHuman settlers were overharvesting natural resources, reducing the plant’s availability for Native use.

By 2629, Native communities began resisting further expansion, leading to a series of land conflicts. Though not yet full-scale war, these disputes contributed to the growing distrust between ExoHumans and the Native Tribes, culminating in the [[great_war|Great War]].


===== The DIY Culture of Hope & Morningstar =====

While New Kourou became the industrial heart of ExoHuman textiles, the settlements of Hope and Morningstar developed a strong DIY culture.

  * Farmers and timber workers crafted their own workwear, often reinforcing jackets, gloves, and boots for durability.
  * Casual clothing was handmade and often inspired by Old Earth’s Wild West—a reflection of the settlers' frontier identity.
  * Many settlers rejected factory-made textiles, preferring practical, self-made garments.

This frontier aesthetic set the cultural foundation for how later generations of settlers in these regions would dress, influencing even modern Outlaw fashion.

===== Clothing on the Dark Side: Function Over Fashion =====

Unlike in the Habitual Belt, fashion played little role in Dark Side settlements. Clothing in Firetown and the [[ralar_region|Ralar Region]] was entirely designed for survival, with a focus on:

  * **Heat retention –** Heavy fur-lined coats, thick gloves, and insulated boots.
  * **Layering –** Clothes designed to trap warmth without restricting movement.
  * **Adaptability –** Many garments were adjustable to fit multiple body sizes, reducing waste.

Indoor clothing, however, was often more expressive, featuring unique patterns, embroidery, and handcrafted details, allowing settlers to showcase their identity within their homes.

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====

The Beta Age’s textile industry and its associated conflicts offer unique storytelling opportunities for Pen & Paper campaigns:

==== 1. Business & Trade Missions ====

  * **"The Factory Heist" –** A Native group wants to sabotage the Karabulut Garment Manufactory. The players are hired to stop them. 

==== 2. Political & Social Intrigue ====

  * **"The Great Cotton Debate" –** Settlers and Natives are negotiating land rights for cotton fields. The players have to act as mediators. 

==== 3. Fashion & Identity Conflicts ====

  * **"The Wild West Wardrobe" –** A settler wants to reclaim their family’s old frontier-style coat from a thief. Can the players track it down?

===== Related Pages and Further Information =====

  * [[Jeremy Karabulut|Jeremy Karabulut]]
  * [[karabulut_garment_manufactory|Karabulut Garment Manufactory]]
  * [[Hekana|Hekana]]
  * [[great_war|Great War]]

**The Ages of the Exohuman history:**

  * [[the_alpha_age|Alpha Age]]
  * [[Beta Age|Beta Age]]
  * [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]]