# Clothing explained — The Conquest of Bread > Chapter companion for The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin. ## What happens Kropotkin argues that after housing and food are communalized, clothing must follow the same principle: the community takes possession of all clothing stores and warehouses, allowing each person to take what they need. He dismisses fears of uniformity or luxury grabs, suggesting that tastes will tend toward simplicity and that voluntary groups will manage inventories and distribution. He also invokes the spirit of revolutionary enthusiasm to overcome initial difficulties. ## Themes in this chapter ### Anarchist Communism Proposes communal ownership of clothing stores and free distribution based on need. ### Individuality and Leisure Asserts that communal clothing does not lead to uniformity; individual tastes and artistic expression can still flourish. ### Revolution and Expropriation Calls for taking possession of shops and warehouses in the name of the people. ## Character check-ins ### Kropotkin Author and narrator; presents the anarchist vision for communalizing clothing. ## Key lines > Groups would spring up in every street and quarter to undertake the charge of the clothing. They would make inventories of all that the city possessed, and would find out approximately what were the resources at their disposal. Neighborhood groups would form to manage clothing distribution, first cataloging all available garments and materials. _Illustrates the decentralized, voluntary organization of clothing provision._ > It is more than likely that in the matter of clothing the citizens would adopt the same principle as in the matter of provisions—that is to say, they would offer freely from the common store everything which was to be found in abundance, and dole out whatever was limited in quantity. Clothing would be distributed freely if abundant, and rationed if scarce, following the same logic as food. _Extends the principle of communal provisioning from food to clothing._ > The great Revolution of 1793 abounds in examples of this kind, and it is always during such times of spiritual revival—as natural to societies as to individuals—that the spring-tide of enthusiasm sweeps humanity onwards. The French Revolution of 1793 shows how collective enthusiasm can carry society through difficult transitions. _Uses historical precedent to argue that revolutionary fervor will help establish the new system._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conquest_of_bread_se/chapters/vii-clothing - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conquest_of_bread_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conquest_of_bread_se/chapters