SCA Iowa Submission Form Guide

This is a deep dive into the submission form which will hopefully clear up any questions you have during the submission process. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at admin@garbguide.org

The first 12 questions are required of all entries. After that, the questions are broken into the three types of entries. To learn more about the types of entries, please visit the “Three Types of Garb Entries” page

Jump to a specific section:

General Questions

1. What is your SCA Name?
   1. This should be straightforward. By what name are you known in the SCA. Remember, this guide features the works of SCA members only.
2. What is your Legal Name?
   1. What name do you use to sign documents? This should be the name you give us.
   2. Why we need it – We’ll refer to you by your SCA Name (question 1) in all communications. We just need this to know what name to put on the consent forms you’ll need to sign to be featured on the site.
3. What is your email address?
   1. Please use an address to which you have easy access and monitor. We’ll use this email to send your consent form and any questions about your entry we have.
4. What is the name of your local group and home kingdom?
   1. Let us know what group you’re from so we can tag it appropriately on your entry. Please give us at least your region and kingdom.
5. Who made the item being submitted? If it is someone other than yourself, please provide their name and, if possible, their email address. It is polite to (if possible) make them aware you are submitting their work.
   1. We’re aware that some folks may be entering in outfits they didn’t make, let us know who made yours so that we can credit their work appropriately.
   2. The majority of the outfit submitted must be made by SCA member(s.) If you’ve purchased some elements, that’s fine! The spirit of this site is to showcase outfits worn by SCA members and made by SCA members.
   3. If it’s your work, feel free to just write “me”
6. Who is modeling the item? If it is someone other than yourself or an inanimate object like a dress form, please provide their name and their email address. They must sign the consent form to be included on the site.
   1. If you’re entering a picture of your work being worn by another person (even someone related to you) we still must have their permission to post their image on the site. If it’s a child, the form allows for their legal guardian to sign.
   2. The expectation is that you’ll let them know you’re submitting their picture and give them the heads-up that we’ll be sending them a form to sign.
   3. If it’s you modelling, feel free to just write “me”
7. Who took the photograph of the item? If it is someone other than yourself please provide their name and their email address. They must sign the consent form to be included on the site.
   1. Similar to the above, the photographer must sign a consent form for us to display their work on the site.
   2. The expectation is that you’ll let them know you’re submitting their picture and give them the heads-up that we’ll be sending them a form to sign.
   3. If it’s your work, feel free to just write “me”
8. What is the name of the garment/item you are submitting? If the garment goes by multiple names, please enter all applicable names.
   1. Examples: 14th c Cotehardie, Norse Apron Dress, T-Tunic, Roman Tunica, etc.
   2. Do the best you can. If you only know one name for it, don’t panic! Some things may only be known one way.
9. During which century(ies) was this garment worn? Check all which apply If you have a more specific time range please feel free to use the “Other” option to provide the specific range (ex: 120 CE – 550 CE)
   1. Check all which apply.
   2. Do the best you can. Some styles are only common in one century, especially later in the era.
10. In which countries, cultures, regions would this item have existed? Please list all which Apply. If this would have been worn by a particular social class, group of people, or political dynasty, you may include that as well.
    1. Please give at least one area your garment would be from.
    2. If it’s common to many areas, feel free to list as many as you like.
11. What resource did you use to determine if this is a historic garment?
    1. Please answer as honestly as possible
    2. “None” – The garment is based on a movie or other such source, it doesn’t have much in common with real medieval garments.
    3. “Fantasy based on historic.” These are also generally found from popular culture. Think about outfits which have a basis in history, but are designed to make them look “cooler” to the modern eye (examples: Buttercup’s red/orange dress in The Princess Bride, Merida’s garments in Brave)
    4. Not a lot of evidence, but accepted as an SCA garment (Think: Norse Apron Dress, The one piece, two seam “T-tunic”)
    5. There are paintings/illuminations/sculptures of this garment (not necessarily any extant remaining pieces.) Please include an image in your email to us, especially if it’s a garment we don’t already have medieval pictures of on site.
       1. If it’s a garment we already have images for, you don’t necessarily need to send us any, just indicate which you’d like to use.
    6. There are existing historic examples – There is a piece from period in a museum and you used it to create your piece
12. What type of entry do you want to make?
    1. Standard – Choose this if you want to make the most common type of entry. It requires less information from you and is still very useful to new folks.
    2. Advanced – An entry with more detail, usually showing multiple layers
    3. Component – A single item rather than an entire outfit. Perhaps it’s a tunic over modern pants, a hood, or a belt.

Standard Entry Questions

1. Would you like to use the prewritten information provided on another entry? If so, please indicate the name of the entry. (This is only available if there is another, fully completed standard entry for this entry available.) You will still need to provide a brief description of your item.
   1. We will copy the historic information, common materials, common substitutions, ensemble components, and accessories from another page (with annotation where provided by an outside party) to save you from needing to reinvent the wheel.
   2. You are, of course, welcome to provide your own information.
   3. Please provide the URL or the entry number for the applicable copying document. This helps us make sure we’re using the right information.
   4. This option is only available in Standard and Component Entries
2. Introduction section (optional) : We’ll produce something if you don’t want to include it, but this is an opportunity if you would like to write it yourself. This is an opportunity to tell us a little about yourself as well.
   1. It can just be a bit about your garment or it can be a little about you. Whatever works for you.
   2. This is an optional section
3. Description of your item (This could include: what you used to make it, how you made it, why you made it, why you chose this garment, what you might do differently, etc.)
   1. Required for every entry
4. (If you didn’t provide another entry on question 1) Common materials used for this item (fabrics, ornamentation)
   1. If you didn’t select another page to copy from, provide us the common materials this garment may have been made from.
   2. Do the best you can.
5. (If you didn’t provide another entry on question 1) Possible Substitutions used for the above materials (optional)
   1. If you didn’t select another page to copy from, provide us any substitution materials which may be used for similar effect. Think: Poly brocades for silk brocades, etc
6. (If you didn’t provide another entry on question 1) Ensemble Components – what other things are usually worn with this item (think underdresses, coats, etc)
   1. What are the components of the ensemble as a whole? This is for the clothing specifically. Think hoods, coats, underdresses, kirtles, braes, etc
7. (If you didn’t provide another entry on question 1) Accessories usually worn with this garment (think belts, pouches, jewelry, etc)
   1. Any additional things which help the look of the ensemble. Things that this person in time would likely have had, but aren’t essential to the garment.
8. It there anything else we should know about your submission?
   1. This is a chance for you to let us know anything else you haven’t included already.
   2. Nothing else? Leave it blank 🙂

Advanced Entry

1. Introduction section: We’ll produce something if you don’t want to include it, but this is an opportunity if you would like to write it yourself. Feel free to use this area to introduce yourself
   1. It can just be a bit about your garment or it can be a little about you. Whatever works for you.
2. Description of your project as a whole
   1. (This could include: what you used to make it, how you made it, why you made it, why you chose this garment, what you might do differently, etc.)
   2. This is required of Advanced Entries. There’s not an option to copy/paste from another entry. We will make an exception if you have previously entered a previous garment which you would like to copy from, but you may not copy another person’s.
3. Description of layer or item 1
   1. This may be an underlayer unseen on the pictures of the outfit as a whole. The separate layers really let you show off the work put into pieces which aren’t necessarily seen
   2. It can just be a couple sentences about what the item is/how it was constructed
4. Description of layer or item 2
   1. Two layers are required of an advanced entry. Advanced Entries should be full outfits.
   2. This may be an underlayer unseen on the pictures of the outfit as a whole. The separate layers really let you show off the work put into pieces which aren’t necessarily seen
   3. It can just be a couple sentences about what the item is/how it was constructed
5. Description of Layer or item 3
   1. Layer 3 is optional. Use it to show off another specific item or layer.
   2. Think of the “layer” name as very broad. Perhaps its the shoes you made or a hat. Maybe it’s a coat. Or leg wraps. Use these additional layers to show off your outfit to its best advantage
   3. It can just be a couple sentences about what the item is/how it was constructed
6. Description of Layer or item 4
   1. Layer 4 is optional. Use it to show off another specific item or layer.
   2. Think of the “layer” name as very broad. Perhaps its the shoes you made or a hat. Maybe it’s a coat. Or leg wraps. Use these additional layers to show off your outfit to its best advantage
   3. It can just be a couple sentences about what the item is/how it was constructed
7. Common materials used for this item (fabrics, ornamentation)
   1. Provide us the common materials this garment may have been made from.
   2. Do the best you can. Feel free to specify materials per layer
8. Possible Substitutions used for the above materials (optional)
   1. Provide us any substitution materials which may be used for similar effect. Think: Poly brocades for silk brocades, etc
9. Ensemble Components – what other things are usually worn with this item (think underdresses, coats, etc)
   1. Include all items you feel are appropriate, whether they are part of the outfit you have presented or not.
   2. What are the components of the ensemble as a whole? This is for the clothing specifically. Think hoods, coats, underdresses, kirtles, braes, etc
10. Accessories usually worn with this garment (think belts, pouches, jewelry, etc)
    1. Any additional things which help the look of the ensemble. Things that this person in time would likely have had, but aren’t essential to the garment.
    2. Include all items you feel are appropriate, whether they are part of the outfit you have presented or not.
11. It there anything else we should know about your submission?
    1. This is a chance for you to let us know anything else you haven’t included already.
    2. Nothing else? Leave it blank 🙂

Component Entry

1. Would you like to use the prewritten information provided on another entry? If so, please indicate the name of the entry. (This is only available if there is another, fully completed standard entry for this entry available.) You will still need to provide a brief description of your item.
   1. We will copy the historic information, common materials, common substitutions, ensemble components, and accessories from another page (with annotation where provided by an outside party) to save you from needing to reinvent the wheel.
   2. You are, of course, welcome to provide your own information.
   3. Please provide the URL or the entry number for the applicable copying document. This helps us make sure we’re using the right information.
   4. This option is only available in Standard and Component Entries
2. Please give a brief description of the item. (some ideas to include if applicable: How is it part of the clothing? What kind of clothing would it be part of? Is it ornamental or functional?)
   1. It can just be a bit about your garment or it can be a little about you. Whatever works for you.
3. How was the item created? (ex: Was the belt leatherwork? Woven? Sewn? Embroidered?)
   1. Include the method of creation. Was this the historic way it was created?
4. Common Materials used to complete the item in history?
   1. What would the item be made from in period? If it could have been made from multiple materials, feel free to include all applicable materials.
5. Any reasonable substitution modern substitutions?
   1. Sometimes medieval materials are cost prohibitive or dangerous for modern recreationists. What can be used to replicate the item safely or in a more cost effective manner (example: Using modern mylar brocade wefts instead of metal for tablet weaving. Using glass pearls instead of real pearls. Etc)
6. Are there any usual accessories worn with the piece (this is uncommon, but we wanted to provide the space.)
   1. Some accessories may have accessories for them.
   2. Example: a Finnish Eura gown may have brooches and a chain hanging from them. Or they may have grooming tools which are attached to them. Or glass beads.
7. It there anything else we should know about your submission?
   1. This is a chance for you to let us know anything else you haven’t included already.
   2. Nothing else? Leave it blank 🙂

I’ve entered my form, What Next?

1. First off, thanks so much for being part of the guide! You never know who you may inspire with your work
2. You should get a confirmation from the Google form you completed that your submission was received. This should arrive within a few hours of completion.
3. Go ahead and email us with your project photos (admin@garbguide.org). Make sure you include your name in your email so we can match everything up. If it makes it easier for you to send several emails with different sets of pictures (especially for advanced entries with multiple layers) that’s totally fine!
   1. Check out the “Photo Guidelines” section for more information.
4. When we’ve reviewed your documents, we’ll send you an email confirming receipt by our team.
   1. Please be patient with the response times. We monitor the submissions, but we have full time jobs and are active SCA members, so some weeks may be busier than others. We’ll do our best to email you within a week of submission.
5. In the email we send you, we’ll either:
   1. Confirm we have all the information we need and that we will be sending you/your model/your photographer the consent forms
   2. Let you know what additional information we’ll need to proceed.
6. Consent forms:
   1. These will be sent from Adobe Echosign. They are keyed specifically to YOUR email address. It cannot be forwarded to another email. If you’ve realized that you need to have the consent form sent somewhere else, please email us.
   2. Adobe Echosign should not require anything overly arduous for you to sign.
   3. You may also print the forms, sign them physically, scan them, and return them to admin@garbguide.org.
7. Once your submission page has been completed, we’ll send you a courtesy email with the link.

Photo Guidelines

1. Photos should be clear and should focus on the garment being submitted.
   1. Feel free to get creative! Find a nice background and take some awesome photos.
2. Whenever possible, please submit photos where the garments are on humans.
   1. Photos of underlayers may be on dress forms. We know that some of these items can be very thin. Please keep photos to G rating as this site is intended for all audiences.
   2. Components may be submitted in whatever manner might make them easiest to see. If you wish to submit pictures of a component as part of a full outfit, please make sure the component is clearly visible.
3. Please make sure that photos are clearly labeled when submitting, especially if submitting multiple layers.
   1. Feel free to send several emails if it is easier for you to organize
   2. If you are submitting multiple garments to the guide at once, please create a separate email for each.
4. It is best to have only the one garment/model included in each picture. Remember that any recognizable human in any picture must have a signed consent form on file, so any picture with additional recognizable faces must have a consent form from each of those people as well or their faces must be blurred.
5. We will accept other forms of submission than email as long as they are easy to access and allow for a safe download of the images.
   1. If you need help getting photos of yourself wearing your garments, email us! If you’re in Calontir, we may be able to work out a time when someone can grab a couple photos of you for us.
6. Please email us if you have questions at admin@garbguide.org