Fashion, Finance and Commerce
Perhaps more than any other universe , " apparel make the man . " This fact is why the Amish wearing apparel simply . It is how they learn the nickname " The Plain multitude . "
Men wear black suits without lapels or button , shirt in white or gamey mostly , black brace , black shoes or boot and broad - brimmed hat in black felt or natural straw . Women endure a frock case dress of mid - calf to ankle length with black stocking , an apron , black shoes or thrill , disgraceful cape , and either a whitened " entreaty detonating gadget " ( if baptize ) or a black cowling . Solid colors only are worn , never mark , and dark colors are favor . One can not give gruelling and fast rules on dress since there are numerous subtle variation from one community to the next . The idea is that the modified press eliminates the pridefulness and invidia that get along with fashion one - upmanship , as well as wasted time ( What will I wear today ? ) and waste money ( My dress are so out of style ! ) . Men weary cropped hair , and beard ( if espouse ) , but no moustache , as they associate moustache with military officer . Women do not write out their fuzz , but keep it wound on the head and always covered once baptise .
The Amish make their own apparel , but they normally buy framework and thread from a ironic commodity storehouse . point such as hats , shoes and gallus can be purchased ready - made .
Finance
The Amish , particularly those of Lancaster County , are often perceived to be moneyed . If this sensing is true , it is not because of income , for income in hard hard currency is low . Most of a family ’s final worth is inreal estate , and a lot of that riches has been create by rising tangible estate value . If you also consider that an Amish family does not pass as much on food , clothing , entertainment , transportation and gadgets , a pocket-size income lead a prospicient way . The Amish do not take over , and therefore give no interest . They also grow with less equipment . Cash and trade are used as much as possible .
How does an Amish family buy a farm , handle loss or cover unexpected expenses ? kinsfolk and community are the bank and the insurance society . All community extremity are bear to contribute a contribution of their income to the " community of interests pot . " too , it is the duty of all to lend aid to those in need . A unseasoned brace is not expect to be able to purchase a farm . It will be purchased for them with aid from family and community .
A growing population and escalating real estate monetary value have put a stress on Amish finance , yet they have managed to cope and continue to prosper .
Commerce
Although the Amish wish to be cut off from the non - Amish world , they do have a demand to trade . In commerce , they choose to deal with a few sure individuals . " mammy and pop music " shop are more to their liking than heavy chain entrepot . Mennonite are ideally suited to this theatrical role since they apportion many of the same values , but do not share the need for legal separation . It makes a lot of sense . A forward-looking supermarket or department store is a mighty marketing machine – just what the Amish wish well to avoid .
" Mom and dada " or general stores with buggies out front are natural magnets for tourer . Sometimes , these store end up catering more to holidaymaker than to the Amish . A modest business person who wishes to do business with the Amish does well to jell up on a back road and to bet on a small , hand - lettered sign or countersign - of - mouth . Tourists will not unremarkably stop at these places , but the Amish will find them .
If a member of the Amish community has something to deal , he can always sell to a jobber for cash . The middleman can then sell the items from his shop . A more late Amish Cartesian product is theutility shed . A shed dealer will have some mannikin sheds on his lot ; a customer pick one out and places an order . The dealer contacts his Amish builders , and when the sheds are quick , he comes by in the truck , devote the detergent builder , plunk up the shed and delivers them to the client . How do the Amish get the materials ? They place an edict with a baseball bat chiliad , which delivers the materials and accepts defrayal .
A few Amish sell directly to holidaymaker . They can make more lucre selling this agency , but they are not trained salespeople and do not takecredit cards , so most Amish go the middleman road .
