The task of medieval underwear was to isolate the body from the outer woollen clothes - it was the only element of garments that was regularly washed. Usually it was made of linen, for wealthier users of silk, and in the late part of the Middle Ages of cotton. It is a basic and inseparable part of medieval clothing. Medieval mens linen consists of a shirt (camisia), braies (bracca) and sometimes an underwear belt, and medieval womens linen consists of a long shirt.