Friday Fun Fact: Worn book review

Today we have a book review from Treadlette Laura! Worn  A People’s History of Clothing  Sofi Thanhauser (2022)  Worn is a history of fabric and clothing. As a sewist and a teacher of beginning sewing, my favorite part was the author’s lessons learned from attending Woolfest in Scotland, “Things can be mended, they must not be rushed, and their imperfections are an intrinsic part of their value.” (p. 259) This is the message I try to communicate to students and remember as I sew.

The book dives into the ecological and human costs of how linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, and wool are produced. The author describes the ongoing pollution caused by fabric and garment production as well as how the industry relies on exploited laborers.  I liked how this book shared many stories and details about the value of garment workers and how that has changed through history. I also enjoyed how the author highlighted how micro-communities, textile manufacturers, and clothing makers around the world are using ancestral and ethical methods for making what we wear.   This is a dense book, that tends to wander at times, but it is a good read for anyone interested or concerned about where our fabric and clothing originates.   Check out all our Friday Fun Facts in the archive here!