Fashionopolis

A “fascinating” (New York Times Book Review) investigation into the human and environmental cost of fast fashion and global supply chains—and what we can actually do to enact change

“A glimpse into how consumerism, slowed to a less ferocious pace, might be reconciled with sustainability.” —The New Yorker

What should I wear? It’s a fundamental question we ask ourselves every day. More than ever, we are told it should be something new. Today, the clothing industry churns out 80 billion garments a year and employs every sixth person on Earth. Historically, the apparel trade has exploited labor, the environment, and intellectual property—and in the last three decades, with the simultaneous unfurling of fast fashion, globalization, and the tech revolution, those abuses have multiplied exponentially, primarily out of view.

We are in dire need of an entirely new human-scale model. Bestselling journalist Dana Thomas has traveled the globe to discover the visionary designers and companies who are propelling the industry toward that more positive future by reclaiming traditional craft and launching cutting-edge sustainable technologies to produce better fashion. From small-town makers and Silicon Valley whizzes to household names like Stella McCartney, Levi’s, and Rent the Runway, Thomas highlights the companies big and small that are leading the crusade.

We all have been too casual about our clothes. It's time to get dressed with intention. Fashionopolis is the place to start.