Modistae

The Modistae, also known as the "Moda" or "Fashion" theorists, were a group of medieval scholars and merchants from the 12th to 14th centuries who studied the ideal proportions and qualities of clothing based on philosophical and grammatical principles. They believed that garments reflected divine order and human morality, using concepts like "form" and "matter" to define how clothing should look. Their work influenced medieval fashion and contributed to early ideas about design and aesthetics, emphasizing harmony and proportion in clothing as a reflection of spiritual and moral ideals.