The idea of constantly updating our wardrobes has only grown. Access and price make it simple and approachable for a large swath of the population to purchase new clothing items with great regularity. As for the old clothes that fall out of favor, reselling or donating clothes is just as easy. There is, of course, the unseen landfill as well. The arm of the fashion industry known as “fast fashion”—the clothes the average person buys—is driving big profits, the demand has led to poor working conditions and widespread pollution.
The following list looks at the many factors that contribute to the current infrastructure of fast fashion, including showing how the trends are orchestrated to focus on certain populations (while ignoring others), as well as providing some hope for how consumers can make more informed choices about the clothes they buy.
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Elizabeth L. Cline, a journalist and clothing resale expert, provides the framework to craft a wardrobe in an ethical and climate-conscious manner. Topics range from the best ways to purge your current closet, including selling, swapping, or donating items. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
“Dress Code” is an incisive examination of fashion as it relates to our everyday lives and the society we live in. Nobody is able to fully opt out of fashion, after all, and the clothes we decide to wear is important to our own self-perceptions and providing important signals to those around us. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
Fashion journalist Dana Thomas, while digging into the harsh facts of the clothing industry, which employs every sixth person in the world, also provides a rundown of the developments that are being undertaken to make fashion more sustainable. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
Gianluca Russo charts the story of how plus-size fashion, long ignored, managed to become a billion-dollar industry on its own, through the trailblazing efforts of fashion bloggers, models, and social media influencers. You can also check out this title as eBook on Hoopla.
Focusing on linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, and wool, “Worn” looks at the global history of the fabrics that have helped shape our world. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
An incisive look at the fast fashion industry, which aims for consumers to constantly add new garments to their wardrobe, as last year’s fashions pile up in landfills. Beyond the climate concerns that come from this type of hyperproduction, Hardy looks at the horrible conditions that workers face in this industry. You can also check out this title as eBook on Hoopla.