A few years ago I read Elizabeth L. Cline’s Overdressed The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion and it was one of the first books that enlightened me to some of the dark truths about fashion. Being a life long lover of fashion, it was difficult to come to terms that the industry hides the abuse behind the beauty, but learning and becoming an educated consumer was invaluable. Cline has now followed her efforts up with The Conscious Closet The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good.
This book is a tuition free education where you learn real, practical methods like how to mend and patch clothing to extend its wear. Written in five parts, Cline provides a road map that will allow you to easily navigate options that best work for you whether that’s repairing, donating, or recycling. It includes interviews from industry professionals and even a few illustrations to help you on your sewing career.
Once again Cline touches on the ugly side of fashion. The industry is a major contributor to water pollution, large carbon emissions, and human rights violations. Understanding how and by whom our garments are made allows us to make better decisions and become more conscious and sustainable versions of ourselves.
The author urges us to simply consider what our spent money supports. How we can shop less and recycle better. I am happy to report that I already employ a lot of these methods, but I can always do more. Because building a conscious closet takes time.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PLUME PUBLISHING