Aprons

Sappers are known for and by their aprons.  A style that has gone somewhat out of style in other parts of Valor, apron wearing is ubiquitous in the Northwoods.  A person's trade, family, and interests can be discerned by the cut, style, and most importantly, embroidery, of their apron.  A tanner for example, may sport a finely tanned leather apron with stylized horns embroidered at the shoulders and carefully embossed family iconography along the bottom hem.  An accomplished musician may wear an apron of light, flowing cloth embroidered with willow branches--but only when they intend to perform, such delicate fabric is not up to the day-to-day wear and tear of the Northwoods.  A housewife who is a skilled herbalist could easily be seen wearing a linen apron with vivid stitching laying out the herbs she is most accomplished with, or perhaps even rare herbs she can access should someone be in need.  
Young children wear a standard brown cotton apron marked only with their family iconography.  Once a child is old enough to be fostered in a trade, they will be presented by a family member with a very simple apron common in that trade.  As the child progresses in the trade, he/she will earn more elaborate aprons. 
Major life events are also marked on the apron and with new aprons.  A girl's coming of age to womanhood will be accompanied by her first silk or fine wool apron (depending on economic status).  A woman embroiders an apron for a family member who is achieving something significant in his/her life (such as achieving master status in a guild or becoming a land owner, the birth of a child, or experiencing great loss.) 
The most distinct apron is the one a person, usually a man, receives from his intended following the acceptance of Life Spoons.  This apron should be a work of devotion and art, though a woman's skill certainly can vary.  An apron of this nature is a treasured item and can be expected to be kept and worn regularly.  Some Sapper men prefer not to wear the apron when doing daily work because of fears that it could be ruined.  A woman adds to the complicated designs on the apron as the couples' life evolves, and an elderly Sapper's apron will lay out the successes and challenges of his life in beautiful pattern and designs for a discerning eye to read.  The apron tradition gives way to several curious idioms in the Northwoods.  For example, if a man is somewhat adrift in life or acting out in a manner unbecoming a Sapper, folks will comment that he's "lost his apron."  If a couple is fussing over some small marital trouble that more experienced people don't think is worth the trouble, they will be accused of or warned against "wrinkling the apron for naught."  If a young man is very smitten with a girl who perhaps is less inclined to return his affections, then he is "chasing after apron strings." 
Not all idioms are polite or mundane though, and daring young youths will tease a comely girl about her "aproning" or ask for a demonstration of her "embroidery."   Often tossed out just before unfortunate arguments, a careless young man/woman might accuse someone of "getting their strings in a knot," which is to say getting fussed about something that has nothing to do with the other person.  This term, unfortunately, is often lobbed about by peeved young men about women they like who are mad about something they do not understand.