Fashioned From Nature

'a welcome, and essential addition to any fashion historian's bookshelf.' - The Journal of Dress History

An elegant and richly illustrated coffee table book exploring the impact of fashion on the natural world 

Fashion has always sought to celebrate nature - from sumptuous silks and floral patterns, to the spectacular creations of designers such as Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior, the two have long been entwined. Yet this reverence is sometimes combined with a damaging need for raw materials. From the seventeenth century to the present day, Fashioned from Nature, the companion book to a 2018 V&A exhibition, examines our dependence on the natural world and the devastating effect of certain trends, as seen in the demand for ivory, fur, skins and exotic feathers.

Today, intense consumerism and fast fashion have a different impact on the world around us, and this book discusses the need for a more responsible fashion cycle. But which has the greater environmental impact - a leather handbag or a white cotton t-shirt? Consider the effects of land clearance, insecticides and water consumption - not to mention washing after every wear - and the answer may not be completely clear. 

Details

• Author: Edwina Ehrman, Curator of Textiles and Fashion at the V&A 
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Date published:  April 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1851779451
• Product Dimensions: 32.1 x 23.4 cm