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Worn

A People's History of Clothing

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Worn

By: Sofi Thanhauser
Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A finely spun history of clothes and where they come from

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 19th 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.

© Sofi Thanhauser 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Art World China Capitalism Socialism Africa Imperialism

Critic Reviews

Fascinating . . . a good yarn . . . the joy of this history of clothing, which is eminently readable and meticulously researched, is its focus on people (Paula Byrne)
This riveting behind-the-scenes story of the clothes on our backs is a must-read for clotheshorses everywhere
A terrific book especially for those who want to be informed about sustainable clothing. Knowing the history is fascinating. (Alexandra Schulman)
Richly evocative . . . One of the great pleasures of this panoramic history of getting dressed is Sofi Thanhauser's ability to spot moments like these where human desire and material culture collide (Kathryn Hughes)
Knowledgeable, fascinating . . . explores the complex systems woven between the producers of cloth and its consumers . . . bulges at the seams with finely spun descriptions of the places and people she encounters (Kassia St Clair)
The story of what we wear is the story of who we are, and Worn offers a riveting, provocative, and eye-opening account. One cannot make sense of our modern world without this book (Brian Christian)
Expansive . . . elegantly chronicling how textile production came to be defined by worker exploitation, misogyny, environmental devastation, and colonialism . . . Yet she also finds space to appreciate sartorial marvels and to celebrate the loom aficionados, "denimheads," and "wool enthusiasts" who aim for a more ethical, analog future
Extraordinary . . . fascinating . . . a wonderful way into history, quite often through the voices of people who don't have a say in history (Cerys Matthews)
A masterpiece of investigative reporting and a riveting adventure story, Worn is both panoramic and richly particular. Thanhauser is the best of guides: humane, engaging, generous with historical anecdote and always able to reveal the telling detail. She shows how the cost of fashion far exceeds any retail price tag, and how the revival of venerable traditions might yet lead us to a sustainable future (Geraldine Brooks)
An incredibly well-reported account of how fashion, far from being trivial, has shaped human history (Pippa Bailey)
All stars
Most relevant
It's taken me a few months to listen to this because I was savouring every moment. A wonderful book if you are interested in textiles and clothing.

Well researched and well written

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Relevant to everyone. Well researched. Sharply written, compassionate, prescient, insightful, fast paced. Many wonderful historical vignettes. But so too the stories of those whose voices have been ill oft heard or silenced in the wake of imperialism, empire, capitalism, and commerce.
I cannot recommend this book more highly. How it has not won a glut of awards yet is beyond me.

You must read this!

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Such a compelling book. Really enjoyed all of the historical accounts and the geopolitical analysis.

Recommend by another book - Really glad I did.

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