Battledress or GPPM uniform

Write about a uniform in your world: what is it for and what does it represent?
The battledress or General Purpose protective military uniform is the standardized apparel worn by members of armed forces and militaries throughout the world. It consists generally of four layers with which protect the wearer from assorted conditions. Undergarments would depend on climate layers could consist of a warm undershirt and pants for cold climates or just drawers for warm climates, thick durable socks were a necessity no matter of climate.
The second layer was the uniforms normally consisting of matching pants and shirts in solid colors representing their national colors, though camouflage is the new norm. These uniforms can vary from nation to nation often fitting in aspects of the national culture. For footwear heavy-duty square-toed leather ankle boots reinforced with metal, studs were the norm. On which cloth, canvas, or leather leggings were be worn over the boots and pants normally up to the calf.
The third layer was arguably the most important this included the protective layer and equipment along with armor. Mainly designed to protect against the bright during The Age of Abandonment arguably being the largest hazard outside combat itself. When battledress and the protective equipment were introduced the bright still covered much of the world and without the protection of the divine and destruction of many of the world divine relics which shielded civilizations in previous ages, many of these relics were destroyed in past conflicts specifically during the divinity wars. Originally bulky and cumbersome the protective gear consisted of a full-body suit worn over the uniform with a face/gas mask and air supply. Over time the protective equipment became a lot less cumbersome and largely intergraded into the uniform requiring only a face/gas mask and hand coverings to be used. Though in the past the protective equipment and garments were standard with the pushing back of the bright the use of protective layers has dramatically decreased. But with the development of chemical weapons and warfare in the modern age protective wear has been reintroduced into the standardized uniform of many militaries worldwide. Armor was also used though due to early versions weight many soldiers went without it. Modern armor is much lighter for most troops it consists of an encoded shield plate a piece of chest armor powered by integrated essences shells. This armor produces a defensive barrier or ward which protects against projectiles including bullets and shrapnel. The ward largely covers the head/face upper arms and thighs with a lot less if any protection on the forearms and legs. The shielding can loosely take five direct shots of small arms fire and two to three direct shots from medium/long arms fire, after which the armor is damaged. Bruising, swelling and broken bones are common complaints when using shield plates.
The fourth layer consists of weather wear, rigging, harnesses, and storage. An essence harness with integrated arcane circuitry used to power encoded/magic items is standard in modern militaries. For weather, protection soldiers would be equipped with a coat/jacket in cold climates, a rain cape, or a poncho. Storage consists of the main pack and pockets on the soldier's harness or rigging along with small bags strapped onto the rigging, harness, or worn separately. Depending on a soldier's role and equipment needs more or less storage is necessary. Generally, common armed forces members carry around 70 pounds including all their kit and gear.
Materials, designs, and production methods may have changed but the general ideal of battledress is still the same.

History

As the Sanctum Cities and other civilizations emerged from their stasis and without the guiding hands and protection of the divine many peoples came into conflict. Fighting over resources and lands unspoiled and uncorrupted from the Bright was constant and seemingly never-ending. Though many felt a sense of free will and optimism for the future an undetermined enlightened age one guided by the self-determination of the mortal races. Battledress became the symbol of industrialization of self-determination of the resourcefulness of mortals. Though its history is undoubtedly stained by bloodshed colonization and imperialism of a future of a modern world built on the backs of countless bodies, countless cultures, and peoples largely forgotten by history.

Significance

Battledress and its various innovations have been used in most theatres of war throughout the world.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Rarity

Being used throughout the world for generations and in most wartime theatres the uniforms are commonplace. The protective equipment once worn by soldiers even generations past is still worn to this day passed down to later generations or resold and or reused by later peoples.

Raw materials & Components

Originally created from natural elements such as leathers and fabrics. But with the development of new and innovative materials by Thaumafikators in rationalizer universities and institutions in the field of meta-material development many of the natural materials have been replaced by newly created ones.