To-Read Book List: Sustainable Fashion and Living

Overdressed: The Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline

This sustainable fashion and living book discusses the consequences of our increasing desire for cheap clothing. Elizabeth Cline explores fashion economics which led to our growing consumerism, the disappearance of the middle class, and consumers’ changing perspective of clothes. This means that we rather go after deals and steals rather than craftsmanship and value. In the book, she documents her visits as an undercover buyer to factories in China and Bangladesh. And she uncovers actual costs and quantity of clothing that might be offered to other companies. Moreover, the book mentions the lost art of sewing. Individual style is also lost as more shoppers buy cheap, disposable, trendy pieces. As a result, charity thrift shops and textile recyclers are having difficulty “processing” our increasing amount of donated clothes. Cheap fashion actually does more harm than good. Thankfully, the author also provides tips and tools to lead a more sustainable fashion lifestyle.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is filled with lots of data and figures. For example, Cline breaks down costs and markups for a piece of clothing. She also approximates the increase in prices needed to provide fair wages to garment workers *with profits remaining the same* (Hint: it is NOT that much). As all these data may dissuade some to start reading or to find the motivation to continue reading, I do find it very informative…even if it took me longer to read due to the amount of information I was absorbing! I also enjoyed that she admits to being a shopaholic and brings her own experiences forward. Sharing her journey made her relatable. This book really shows that you do cast a vote with with every purchase you make!

Slave to fashion by Safia Minney

This second sustainable fashion book is also a real eye-opener to those who may not know that slavery still exists. It takes its readers behind the glitz and glam of the fashion world, into a complex web of human exploitation and a muddy supply chain. The author travels to parts of India and Bangladesh and uncovers the personal stories of several laborers. Some are shockingly sad. Many children are missing out on education for the sake of supporting their family through labor. This book made me understand that many laborers are not doing the job by choice. Not only are labor conditions maladaptive, sexual harassment and intimidation are rampant in clothing factories. I learned that victims are often forced into the industry and are prisoners of their own circumstances.

Women empowerment, access to education, consumer awareness, existing innovative technologies and governmental support are all presented in the book as viable solutions. But ultimately, it is up to the consumers to take action and vote with our purchases. The last section of the book is a “toolkit for beginners” and proposes 11 steps to fight against slavery in fashion. The author ends the book with a list of external resources *you may further look into*, such as websites, books, documentaries, campaigning organizations and social media accounts to follow. Given the amount of resources currently available, I see there is much hope in changing the landscape of the fashion industry for as long as we keep spreading the word!

Rise & Resist – How to Change the World by Clare Press

The last book highlights the different approaches that you can follow to take action. It also takes a look at the women’s rights movement over the years, the fashion revolution, the climate movement, the anti-plastic movement, minimalism, consumerism, and others. To get more information, Clare Press interviews different types of activists, humanitarians, influencers and leaders. Moreover, the book discusses traditional activism and how it can be a problem because it tends to oversimplify: “you’re either for us or against us.” This is not the case as it is rarely black and white. However, you do not need to be part of loud protests to “make a change.” The book explains that there are actually different forms of protests that you can do.

This book is a good read as it focuses on the people who are trying to make a difference in the world. It shows their passion and commitment. Therefore, it is quite inspiring, which is what activism and movements should be like. They need to inspire action from the public. In short, this book conveys the message that anyone can lead a sustainable lifestyle and be a “changemaker” just by doing something in your everyday life. It’s all about being inspired and inspiring to create a collective action that will lead to change.

To-Read Book list:

• To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? By Lucy Siegle
• Sustainability with Style by Lisa Heinze
• The Sustainable Fashion Handbook by Sandy Black
• Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
• Clothing Poverty: The Hidden World of Fast Fashion and Second-hand Clothes by Andrew Brooks
• Refashioned by Sass Brown
• Emotionally Durable Design by Jonathan Chapman
• Craft of Use by Kate Fletcher
• Stitched Up By Tansy Hoskins
• Fixing Fashion by Michael Lavergne
• The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
• Slow Fashion: Aesthetics Meets Ethics by Safia Minney
• Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press
• Worn Stories by Emily Spivack
• Stuffocation by James Wallman
• Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too by Beth Terry
• Wear No Evil: How to Change the World with Your Wardrobe by Greta Eagan
• Give a Sh*t: Do Good, Live Better, Save the Planet by Ashlee Piper
• Dress with Sense by Christina Dean, Hannah Lane, and Sofia Tärneberg
• Fashionopolis by Dana Thomas
• Wild Dress: Clothing & the Natural World by Kate Fletcher

**If you prefer watching videos, check out this list of inspiring and informative videos here.
**If you prefer podcasts, check out these 6 great sustainability podcasts you will want to listen to now.

Last updated: May 2020