Fast fashion is become more and more a part of our conversations about climate change, ethical consumption and equality. In Worn, Sofi Thanhauser takes us through centuries of humanity’s relationship to fabric and clothes, showing how society was shaped by our relationship to our clothing and vice versa.

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This was a fascinating book, and a must-read for anyone interested in the textile industry or historical clothing. No stone is left unturned; Thanhauser takes us in detail through all of the major fabrics used in clothing, the history of each, and our relationship with each. It had never occurred to me to wonder about how linen was produced pre-industrial revolution for example, or how viscose was made. Even things where we feel like we know more about the history of their production, such as cotton, there is so many ethical issues and human rights violations involved than is often discussed.

As well as talking about the fabric production, Thanhauser also talks about how our relationship to clothing and fashion has changed, how the idea of the fashion season came about, and how we got to our designer-led industry today. It’s a fascinating story and she does a brilliant job of telling it, taking us through history and around the world. Some of the topics were explored perhaps a little too in-depth, taking us down the occasional rabbit hole that distracted from the main message of the book, but on the whole the variety of topics covered worked well together to give a comprehensive view.

Overall this was a fascinating and timely read, and you will come away from it with a newfound knowledge and appreciation for your clothes and the work that has gone into them.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.