Growing Population
In 1920, there were about 5,000 Amish in the United States. In today’s money, that number equates to 300,000. Furthermore, much of the growth occurred in the last three decades, when the Amish population was just 84,000 in 1984. The increase is attributed to the belief that God needs larger families and the more realistic problem of expanding their farm workforce.
Strict Guidelines For Clothes
By definition, Amish clothing is plain. While some sects accommodate muted colors, the majority of sects dress in black and white. Because of the potential for ostentation and decoration, buttons, zippers, and velcro, in addition to color, are generally frowned upon and avoided. Pins or hook-and-eye closures are commonly used instead.