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A History Of Clothing In Five Fabrics

Renee Bright
/
KUER

Take a look at the tag in your collar and you’ll see where your shirt was made. But what does made in China, Vietnam or anywhere else really mean?

A multitude of sociopolitical forces, many of them considered unfair and exploitative, undergird the fashion industry. In the new book Worn, author Sofi Thanhauser traces the origins of five fabrics — linen, cotton, silk, synthetics and wool — highlighting the political and historical importance of each in a world-spanning journey. Finally, she suggests ways people might take more control over the production of the clothes we wear.

Airdate: March 18 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Sofi Thanhauser’s book is Worn: A People’s History of Clothing [Amazon|Bookshop]