by Elizabeth L. Cline (Get the Book)The era of socially responsible clothing is upon us. Certainly, thanks to media sensationalism, most American consumers are aware by now of exposes of underpaid factory workers here and overseas and the sincere attempt by U.S. corporations to ban such treatment. Yet just as many readers would be fascinated (in the worst way) by the industry itself and the waste that our clothing habits engender. Journalist Cline chronicles the excesses from every angle, beginning with the YouTube shopping hauls, in which young consumers provide reviews of garments from the likes of H&M, Zara, and Target. She probes previously underreported segments of fashion, such as what it costs to manufacture different items and how retailers shave costs; the composition of man-made fabrics, such as polyester (oil dependent and not biodegradable); and the behind-the scenes disposition of donated articles by the Salvation Army and Goodwill. Most important is her discovery and adoption of ethical fashion, in which quality pieces triumph through the patronage of local designers, by a return to sewing and hand-embellished garments, and by the decidedly unfashionable notion of wearing clothes unique enough to not care about trendiness. --Booklist
