I know you are in need of a new book to read. A good one- one that inspires you, surprises you, and helps you be a better person. It’s 2017 and you are looking for a change, and I have the books to inspire that change. My 5 must read books about sustainable fashion!
I have read most of these books already, so I know firsthand what it’s different about each and what makes them such powerful reads. Even reading one of these will change your perspective on how you view fashion and shopping, but they do all have something different to offer.
1. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, by Elizabeth Cline
If you only read one book, this is the one to read. I read several years ago, and it completely changed the way I thought. Re-reading it now has changed my actions. Elizabeth goes into detail about the lifecycle of your ‘fast fashion’ purchases, to help you understand everything from how your clothing is made to what happens after you dispose of it.
2. Wear No Evil, by Greta Eagan
This book breaks down the facts of sustainable fashion in a quick, succinct opening chapter that leaves the rest of the book to understand how to make changes within your own life. My favorite part is her ‘Integrity Index’ in which she explains how to analyze clothing and rate an item’s sustainability by understanding the dyes, fiber and location of which it’s made.
3. Slow Fashion, by Safia Minney
Safia Minney is a longtime fashion entrepreneur, and founded the ethical clothing brand, People Tree. Her book is about understanding the future of fashion business practices, from the production of goods to brick-and-mortar retail. She is quite well-connected so she is able to include in-depth interviews with designers and visionaries who are embracing sustainable fashion in practice.
4. Sustainable Fashion and Textiles, by Kate Fletcher
Kate’s book is somewhat of the OG of sustainable fashion writing, as her first iteration of this book was actually a course textbook for me in college. Since then, she has re-issued this paperback to be up to date on all of the ethical and eco-friendly textile practices that are available to us today. This book takes a deeper dive in sustainable textile design, and finds way to inspire designer’s creativity as opposed to limiting it.
Lucy Siegle is also a well-known warrior for the sustainable fashion movement; she is the mastermind behind the Green Carpet Challenge, a celebrity challenge to wear ethical fashion to high profile event. Her exposé helps put the focus back on the consumer, helping us to understand the importance of our purchasing decisions and how they impact the greater global economy.
