“Books break the shackles of time – proof that humans can work magic.” - Carl Sagan

In a time and age when the pursuit of luxury is indistinguishable from the pursuit of happiness, we dare say that there is no greater privilege, no greater wealth in life, than the richness received from reading a good book. You may have access to all the riches in the world, but if you have a poor inner world, the first thing we would say is - read on!

At SANDE, we have set up our bookshop with non-other than Bookshop! - an online book platform connecting readers to local, independent bookstores around the world, giving many of these bookstores a chance to thrive in the age of e-commerce.

Since you all know how much we love Sustainable Fashion, the first thing we have done is put together a list of sustainable fashion books that we think are an absolute must-read.

So sit down with your favourite cup of tea, relax, and happy reading!

SUSTAINABLE FASHION (Essential Reads):

1. OVERDRESSED: THE SHOCKINGLY HIGH COST OF CHEAP FASHION

The book that ignited a global conscious fashion revolution!  Overdressed is a landmark investigation into the rise of fast, disposable fashion and its hidden toll on the environment, human rights, and consumer behaviour. Years before the rest of the world woke up to the impacts of fashion, Cline was reporting on the subject. Cline was among the first U.S. journalists to cover the fashion industry in Bangladesh, before the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster claimed the lives of 1,130 garment workers. The critically acclaimed title has helped to spur the global ethical fashion movement and has inspired the rise of many ethical fashion brands and startups.   

Order the book on SANDE Bookshop here

 

2. CONSUMED 

A call to action for consumers everywhere, Consumed is a story told in two parts; where Barber begins by exposing the endemic injustices in our consumer industries and the uncomfortable colonial history of a textile industry which brokered slavery, racism, and today's wealth inequality. In the second part, Barber invites you to participate in unlearning; by shedding light on the truth behind why we consume in the way that we do and how to fill the void of consumption with compassion. 

Consumed will teach you how to be a citizen and not a consumer.

 

Order the book on SANDE Bookshop here

3. CRADLE TO CRADLE: REMAKING THE WAY WE MAKE THINGS 

Reduce, reuse, recycle - this is the manifesto for consuming sustainably. The problem with this notion is that it embeds in the human psyche that the production of toxic waste is inevitable. Thus, as humans, we need to minimise waste as much as possible. Cradle to Cradle is a refreshing and provocative book that challenges this approach, claiming it perpetuates an outdated cradle to grave manufacturing model that hasn't been challenged since the Industrial Revolution. Taking nature as the principle model, it sets forth the first principle that industrial waste should be made to nourish, rather than degrade the natural environment. 

Order the book on SANDE Bookshop here

4. FASHION & SUSTAINABILITY - DESIGN FOR CHANGE

This book explores the transformative power of sustainability on fashion. The first section transforming fashion products covers innovation in materials, manufacturing, distribution, use and re-use. The second part presents ideas that are transforming fashion systems and the third section is dedicated to transforming fashion design practice, exploring new opportunities for designers which extend beyond the traditional role of creator.

 

 

5. DESIGN AND NATURE: A PARTNERSHIP

A rich resource for designers who wish to learn to engage with sustainability, this book is organised into 25 short chapters as a dialogue between nature and design, exploring the possibility of new relations between design and nature and challenges the longstanding role for design as an agent of capitalism. The book puts forward ways in which design can form partnerships with living species, covering topics ranging from methods for new design and nature relations, indigenous perspectives, prototyping with nature, animism, de-centering human-centered design and much more!

Order the book on SANDE Bookshop here

 

6. CLOTHING POVERTY

Have you ever wondered where your clothes end up after you donate them to charity? 

Following a pair of jeans, Clothing Poverty takes the reader on a journey that exposes the hidden trade networks which transect the globe, revealing how your recycled donations are actually contributing to the perpetuation of poverty.

Order the book on SANDE Bookshop here

 

7. THE CONSCIOUS CLOSET 

Whether your goal is to build an effortless capsule wardrobe, keep up with trends without harming the environment, buy better quality, seek out ethical brands, or all of the above, The Conscious Closet is packed with the vital tools you need to build an ethical, sustainable wardrobe you'll love.  Elizabeth delves into fresh research on fashion's impacts and shows how we can leverage our everyday fashion choices to change the world through style.  

The Conscious Closet is not just a style guide. It is a call to action to transform one of the most polluting industries on earth--fashion--into a force for good. 

Order the book on SANDE Bookshop here 

 

8. LOVED CLOTHES LAST

The Ultimate guide from Fashion Revolution activist Orsola De Castro on how to love, mend and repair your clothes in order to rid yourself of the habits contributing to the destructive cycle of fast fashion.

Are you running out of space for the clothes you can't stop buying? Curious about how you can make a difference to the environmental challenges facing our planet?

Join Orsola's care revolution and learn to make the clothes you love, last longer. 

 

Order the book on SANDE Bookshop here