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Worn

A People's History of Clothing
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( 2,214 ratings, 399 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Worn by Sofi Thanhauser, the author traces the history and impact of five fibresβ€”linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, and woolβ€”on society. The book delves into the cultural, economic, and environmental implications of the textile industry while highlighting the craftsmanship and human stories behind garment production.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3000
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you have an interest in the history and cultural impact of textiles. It provides a fascinating exploration of clothing and its production, offering insights into how fashion shapes and reflects society across different eras and regions.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An evocative exploration of the origins and impact of one of our most intimate and essential possessions.

Linen, Cotton, Silk, Synthetics, Wool - through the stories of these five fabrics, Sofi Thanhauser illuminates the world we inhabit in a startling new way, travelling from China to Cumbria to reveal the craft, labour, and industry that create the clothes we wear.

From the women who transformed stalks of flax into linen to clothe their families in nineteenth-century New England, to those who earn their dowries in the cotton-spinning factories of South India today, this book traces the origins of garment-making through time and around the world.

Exploring the social, economic, and environmental impact of our most personal possessions, Worn looks beyond care labels to show how clothes reveal the truth about what we really care about.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Worn by Sofi Thanhauser is highly praised for its meticulous research and compelling narrative. Reviewers appreciate its readability and the detailed exploration of the history of textiles and fashion. The book is noted for its focus on the people behind clothing production and the complex systems involved. It is considered a must-read for those interested in sustainable fashion and the intersection of material culture with human history. Critics commend Thanhauser's ability to make the subject matter gripping and insightful, offering a rich blend of investigative reporting and historical anecdotes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141990316

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 January 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 292g

Pages: 400

About the Author

Sofi Thanhauser is a writer and artist whose work has appeared in numerous publications including the Spectator. An expert at shopping for vintage clothes - she has probably spent 10,000 hours hunting for sartorial treasure - Sofi's curiosity about the stories captured in care labels, from fabric composition to country of origin, led her to investigate the global questions explored in this book. She lives in Brooklyn and teaches in the Writing Department at Pratt Institute.

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