Clothing Poverty: The Hidden World of Fast Fashion and Second-hand Clothes

'A mind-opening tour of global clothing systems, from recycling flows to radical advocacy. Thought-provoking and insightful, Brooks highlights a long overdue need for 'radical advocacy' to improve social justice within the supply chain, and between producers and consumers. Andrew Brooks has created a book that sparks with intelligence, mapping a world that connects inequalities, Vivienne Westwood, post-consumption and second-hand garments.' --Kate Fletcher, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London 'Clothing Poverty takes the reader on a global journey to expose the inequalities and injustices that exist within the second-hand clothing trade and the manufacturing of garments destined for Western markets. A fascinating, must-read text for those interested in the ethics surrounding sustainability in fashion and design' --Alison Gwilt, author of Fashion Design for Living and A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fa

"A wonderful topic set in a too-rigid analytical frame, but still rather readable and extremely informative." according to lyndonbrecht. This could be an excellent book instead of merely good and informative. The author sets his intriguing analysis of the global used clothing market within a sort of neo-Marxist frame, more readable than one might expect, but it turns an interesting account into a case study for the inadequacies of global capitalist systems, asserting things much. "Not a worthwhile read." according to oldgranolagirl. In keeping with the previous review, I was one of the readers who was put to sleep with unnecessary out-of-touch vocabulary. The most used term, system of provision, is never defined, and is used ad nauseam, often several times per page. I read the book to learn more about the flow of second-hand clothing because that is what I buy for 95% of m

Stitching together rich narratives from markets in Mozambique, Nigerian smugglers, Bolivian traders, London vintage shops, and growing ethical fashion lines like Vivienne Westwood’s, Brooks draws connections and shines light in the world’s dark cornersand forces us to think anew about fashion, ethics, and our role in global production and exploitation.. But are those jeans themselves good? Have you ever looked into where they came from and who made them? Andrew Brooks has, and with Clothing Poverty he takes readers on a global journey, from fabric to fashion show, to reveal the worldwide commodity chains and hidden trade networks that transect the globe and perpetuate poverty. You look good in those jeans

Dr Andrew Brooks is a Lecturer in Development Geography at King's College London. He has researched the clothing sector through case studies which link the Global North and South and Andrew's research has taken him to Southern Africa and included extensive investigations of markets in Malawi and Mozambique and Chinese investment in Zambia.. His research examines connections between sp