For the sake of modesty they wore a canvas loin cloth, called a subligaculum, which was worn in a variety of colors. Gladiators clothing was finished with sandals although many fought barefoot.

Gladiators Clothing - Protective Clothing
Apart from the garments mentioned above the main elements of Gladiators Clothing consisted of protective clothing with provided forms of armor against the attack of their opponents.

Gladiator Sandals

Gladiators Clothing worn in the Arena
The protective clothing worn by the gladiators were designed in many different styles and forms. The section on Types of Gladiators provide full descriptions of all of the different types of gladiators including their armor, helmets, shield and weapons. Protective gladiator clothing included:

• The Manicae which were wraps of leather and cloth for arm and wrist padding

• The balteus which was a sword belt

• The Cingulum was wide leather belt which was to protect the gladiators waistline from being injured. The Cingulum was often strengthened with metal plates

• Fascia which was protective leg padding worn below a greave. It consisted of a band of material, or skin, or leather

• The Galerus was the distinctive metal shoulder guard of the gladiator such as the Retiarii or the Laquerarii

• Subarmallis which was padded linen worn under armor to prevent chaffing and provided extra protection. This type of armor padding was often filled with straw

• An ocrea was a metal leg guard, or greave, that ran from the knee, or sometimes the thigh, to below the shin protecting the front of the leg

Gladiators Clothing - Everyday Clothes
The focus of gladiators clothing always focuses on the clothes worn in the arena. Similar types of clothes would have been worn during the strenuous training the gladiators worked to but they also had quieter periods when basic, cheap woollen tunics (tunica) were worn. 

Gladiators Clothing - Expensive Clothing
There were occasions when Gladiators Clothing was more stylish and expensive. It must be remembered that gladiators were paid each time they fought and they were allowed to keep any rewards and purses of money. The most successful gladiators were also treated like modern day 'Pop Idols' with fan worship, fame and glory. Successful gladiators could therefore buy better clothes than was supplied by the Gladiator schools. The type of clothing and the materials used to produce the clothing was however limited by the Roman Sumptuary Laws. The Roman Sumptuary Laws ensured that the clothes that were worn provided information about the status of the person wearing them. This was not just dictated by the wealth of the person, it also reflected their social standing. For instance, only Roman citizens were allowed to wear the Toga. The emperor was the only person allowed to wear a purple toga. So gladiators who were slaves could buy clothes but they were limited to garments such as tunics and cloaks. The expensive clothing of gladiators would be worn at public banquets. The evening before gladiators fought in the arena they ate at a public banquet called a 'cena libera'. Other Romans were permitted to observe the banquet and the gladiators encouraging hero worship, betting and as a general form of advertising for the forthcoming events at the arena.