The very provocative forwarding page authored by Geoffrey B. Small opened the book beautifully with facts and figures to make any fashionista think twice about what they are wearing…

“Dominated by large global corporate groups, and their sponsored media who encourage a dream lifestyle of selfishness, apathy, superficiality, greed, sex and drugs to a growing audience of billions, fashion has been sold to the rafters, leaving it’s consumers and producers poorer, dumber, and more ill-equipped than ever, to face combat, or survive the doomsday scenarios that everyone from religious fanatics to Nobel laureates predict will take place in within a lifetime. Fashion is indeed a massive human, social and environmental disgrace in need of a paradigm shift.” – Excerpt by Geoffrey B. Small

While the book follows on to educate about sustainability, community and fair trade, as well as other social and political issues, we are taken through the worlds of various fashion houses tackling these issues and creating initiatives, one at a time, in their own sense of what these companies think is important and needs to be done.

While our industry is still far from perfect, and it will take a huge shift in consumer thinking to change wasteful consumption, this book gives us great hope that there are industry leaders out there pushing for a new industrial revolution. One that goes back to quality, not quantity, and encourages thoughtful manufacturing processes, as well as ecological awareness.

Sass Brown should be applauded for collating such a beautifully presented, and well researched book. This one is an essential piece of literature for every designer and consumer involved in the world of clothing production and consumption.