attire, dress, pretend, disguise, profess
装 centers on outward presentation: clothing and attire, but also the act of putting on a false appearance, pretending, or disguising one's true self. The idea of professing or claiming something also fits this theme of presenting a front.
装 is the modern simplified form of 裝. The older form combines 衣 (clothing) with 壯 (strong, robust), which likely contributed the sound and the idea of adorning or equipping. The modern top 壮 is a simplification of 壯.
The top 壮 suggests strength or robustness, and the bottom 衣 is clothing. Imagine putting on strong, impressive attire to present a bold front—whether it's real or just a disguise.
For ソウ, picture sewing a costume: sew -> ソウ. You sew clothing (衣) to create an outfit or disguise.
equipment; device; installation; apparatus
equipment
clothing; costume; outfit; garment; dress
arms; armament; taking up arms; arming oneself
coating; painting
equipping; installing; fitting; mounting; putting on
attire; dress; clothes; clothing; costume; garb
ornament; decoration
camouflage; disguise
remodelling; remodeling; reorganization; reorganisation
to dress (oneself in); to attire oneself in; to adorn; to decorate
interior design; interior; upholstery
armoring; armouring; armor; armour
costume; fancy dress; masquerade; disguise
packing; wrapping
paving (a road); surfacing (with asphalt, concrete, etc.); pavement
redecoration; remodelling; remodeling; refurbishment
dress; outfit; equipment; makeup; adornment; guise; get-up
full dress; formal dress; uniform
binding (of a book)
nuclear arms