The Hidden Life of Clothing : Historical Perspectives on Fashion and Sustainability / Rachel Worth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Worth, Rachel

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Clothing trade--Sustainable methods.

Clothing trade.

Fashion.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (217 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing (UK), 2023.

Place of Publication:

London : Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2023.

System Details:

text file HTML

Summary:

Since the democratisation of the clothing industry in the early 19th century, buyers have become increasingly disconnected from the creative and human aspects of the production of clothing. Arguably clothing is now valued less for its aesthetic qualities or because of the hours spent in its making, but more for the extent to which it serves current 'fashion'. In a climate of increasing anxiety about the environmental and social impact of the contemporary global fashion industry, Rachel Worth suggests that, rather than seeking solutions only in the present, looking to history can assist in understanding better the challenges consumers face today in making decisions about the contents of their wardrobes, which, in turn, will impact on the nature of the future global fashion industry. She does not seek to offer simplistic historical solutions to contemporary problems, but explores ways in which it might be possible to bridge divides between knowledge of the past, current individual choice, and possible directions for future action. The more we know about our clothes, the less likely it is that we will wear an item of clothing only a few times before replenishing it with newer purchases that are 'on trend'. By taking ownership of our personal clothing choices rather than feeling pressurised to respond to sophisticated marketing and to 'influencers', this book suggests how we might rethink our wardrobes in philosophical and practical ways in order to create a sense of order and beauty in our lives and to wrest control back from the increasing chaos of seemingly endless choice that perpetuates unsustainable, impersonal and fast fashion.

Contents:

Intro

Half Title

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Illustrations

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: The hidden language of clothing

Nursery rhymes, fabric and clothing

Rhymes about clothing and class

Rhymes with an advisory or cautionary (clothing) theme

Rhymes about clothing poverty

Chapter 2: From democratisation to fast fashion

Technological change and the cotton industry

Developments in the making and retailing of ready-made clothing

Adoption of the sewing machine

Retailing revolution (I)

The democratisation of shoe production

Retailing revolution (II)

Democratising colour

Chapter 3: Sustainability and clothing in context

The emergence of fashion

The road to fast fashion

The backlash against fast fashion

The fabric of fashion conundrum

Transparency on the label

The use of fur and feathers

Chapter 4: The human factor: Clothing, growth and alternative economic paradigms

'Sweating' and the fight for a minimum wage

The move to outsourcing

The 'economics' of fast fashion

Chapter 5: Clothing, nature and the environment

Clothing in pastoral narratives

Nature fights back

Nature and the Arts and Crafts Movement

Chapter 6: Philosophies of dress

Oscar Wilde: 'The Philosophy of Dress'

Mary Eliza Haweis: The Art of Dress

Eric Gill: Clothes

Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Print version: Worth, Rachel The Hidden Life of Clothing

ISBN:

9781350180963

1350180963

9781350180949

1350180947

OCLC:

1376932277