Whilst the blurb details what this book talks about, the title is a tad misleading and should be more the history of fabrics. I don't think as a UK reader that this was as interesting for me as I'd hoped. A lot of focus on the US with Europe and UK rarely discussed.
As a fashion lover I was left wanting more.

In Worn, Sofi Tanhauser has produced an excellent, comprehensive account of our relationship with cloth and clothing. Encompassing social, economic, colonial, cultural and gender history from ancient times when people started twisting linen into thread to globalised fast fashion industry and sweatshops of the modern world. As more and more reports about the environmental cost and exploitative practices of cloth and garment manufacturing industries come to light, Worn is a timely and an essential read. Furthermore, the global pandemic and frequent lockdowns have caused many to reassess how many clothes they buy and whether they need to – I would urge them to read this book. I would urge anyone with interest in fashion and clothing to read this book.

Worn is divided into chapters on linen, cotton, silk, synthetics and wool. The history of how people came to use these fabrics, how we got to mass production and who got to control it is very well researched and presented. Tanhauser focuses on the US but visits factories in China, India, Honduras and elsewhere so she does present the reader with a global picture, and it is not pretty.

The history itself is fascinating. While I’m familiar with quite a bit of it, I’ve still learned a lot. Gender history, in particular and how and why women were gradually but comprehensively excluded from guilds and earning money in late medieval and early modern times. The rise of Paris fashion and how Louis XIV promoted domestic manufacture and export of luxury textiles and clothing. The book has also given me a lot of ideas for further reading.

Essential reading for anyone wishing to make better choices about the clothing they wear. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Allen Lane, Penguin UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Worn.

Worn by Sofi Thanhauser has a fabulous book that takes a look at the history of our clothes through the history of textiles and through these views we can see the history of our world. It is just brilliant.

I am stunned by the amount of research that was undertaken in creating this tapestry of gold. Through the author’s time, research, travels, interviews, and effort we are able to learn so much about history of the human civilizations through the history of textiles: cotton, linen, wool, silk, and synthetics. Through this information we are able to learn the development and roots of how our garments have come to fruition. We can see how each has evolved, and what that reflects in regards to evolution, environment, society, and also get a glimpse of different cultures spread out amongst the lands.

I never could have imagined that by starting this book I could learn so much about the human race and our constant evolution (good and bad) through our discovery, use, progression, and manipulation of different materials. It is fresh, unique, inspiring, and unforgettable.

I loved reading this book, going along with the author on her journeys, and all that I have learned throughout.

I cannot recommend this book enough!!!!

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NG and Penguin Press UK – Allen Lane, Particular, Pelican, Penguin Classics for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/27/22.

Super interesting. I was fascinated by this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read a digital arc in exchange for my feedback.