Just in time for summer reading, 5 fashion books that will make you think about what you wear and why.

Recently, I’ve become more interested in fashion tailored to the environmentally and ethically-aware consumer, but I find the entire industry extremely difficult to navigate. And, sure, that won’t get any easier, but the following 5 books about eco-fashion are a great start to getting you more informed and proactive about the choices you make when it comes to your clothing.

1. “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion” By, Elizabeth L. Cline

Elizabeth L. Cline exposes the fashion industry’s pitfalls in not only damaging out sense of style and the environment but also in stripping our souls of authenticity. She uncovers the truth behind fast fashion clothing lines and inspires readers to break the cycle of disposable fashion.

2. “Fashion & Sustainability: Design for Change” By, Kate Fletcher and Lynda Grose

This book posits the fashion industry as a sustainability machine and how such a structure could transform the world. Kate Fletcher and Lynda Grose organize the book into three parts: the first focuses on transforming elements across the lifespan of a piece of garment, from manufacturing and distribution to use and re-use; the second part outlines business models that lower material throughput; and the third section re-evaluates the role of fashion designer from one of creator or stylist to one of communicator, activist, and facilitator.

3. “Naked Fashion: The New Sustainable Fashion Movement” By, Safia Minney

Written by People Tree founder and CEO Safia Minney, Naked Fashion offers a glimpse into the lives of garment workers and their trying lives. The book also showcases case studies on fashion that don’t come at the cost of the environment or ethics and profiles designers, photographers and filmmakers who are reshaping the industry. Expect celebrity appearances!

4. “Eco Fashion” By, Sass Brown

Sass Brown’s “Eco Fashion” takes you on a journey through eco-fashion as it has developed over the years and sheds light on the players who are making big changes. The book covers ecological designs and helps readers navigate this often complicated and hard-to-digest space of the fashion industry.

5. “Style, Naturally” By, Summer Rayne Oakes

Model, designer and entrepreneur Summer Rayne Oakes provides readers with the resources to incorporate eco-fashionable pieces into their everyday lives. This book goes beyond exposing the truths behind fast fashion and is dually practical, serving as a guide to the readers hungry for sustainability wear.

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Photo Credit: Summer Rayne Oakes

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Eco Fashion Book Over-Dressed

In the age of the iPad, instant messaging and digital dreaming, it’s easy to overlook the value of the humble book. But who doesn’t love turning over the well worn pages of a classic, scribbling notes in the margins as thoughts tumble out at whim, and having a tangible treasure to hold on to through generations?

Eco-fashion, once seen as the sidebar of the fashion industry, is now a literary subject in its own right, and there are a range of new titles to keep you sustainably stylish. Whether you are after a history of the good and green elements of the industry, a how to guide on DIY fashion, or a personal account of how fashionistas can transform into conscious consumers, these gems will have you covered.

1. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline

Author Elizabeth Cline turns her own consumer habits on their head in this journey of personal discovery and wardrobe revamping. A self confessed fast fashion consumer, Elizabeth questions what she  is doing with all her cheap clothes and what social and environmental impact they are having on the world around us. Through following Elizabeth’s journey to the factories of China and beyond, you learn just how easy it is to break the consumer driven cycle.

2. Sustainability with Style by Lisa Heinze

This book says it is part autobiography, part eco guidebook and part cultural exploration. That’s a lot of jam-packed green goodness from Australian-based American author Lisa Heinze, who lets us sneak a peak into how she marries sustainability with style. After years of being a self proclaimed image obsessed fashion addict, she inspires us to make changes in our own life through her candid honesty, personal experiences and bag full of tips and tricks.

3. I Spy DIY style: Find Fashion You Love and Do It Yourself by Jenni Radosevich

If the academic angle isn’t your thing and you are looking for a more practical approach, then this book is the perfect pick me up. With a few easy to learn skills and some basic supplies, it takes you through 30 step by step projects inspired by the world’s runways, celebrity red carpet looks and timeless classic cuts. It even includes top tips from fashion favorites Rachel Roy, Olivia Palermo and Rebecca Minkoff.

4. To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing out the World by Lucy Siegle

Unlike some of the personal accounts of eco conscious living, this title is more of an expose on the industry, penned by The Observer’s ethical living columnist. Providing thorough detail on fashion and fabric production, it argues that it is possible to become an ethical fashion lover, with just a little bit of information and conscious questioning. It clearly advocates a new case for change and sets an ambitious agenda for the future of the fashion industry from an experienced and eco obsessed journalist.

5. Naked Fashion: The New Sustainable Fashion Revolution by Safia Minney

Written by founder and CEO of the famous Fair Trade fashion label, People Tree, Safia Minney provides inspiration and advice on how to make a difference through decision making. It also includes accounts of well known celebrities from creative industries talking about what they are doing differently to reduce their environmental impact, including British actor and Harry Potter heroine Emma Watson along with industry icon Vivienne Westwood. As an added bonus it also contains an ethical brand directory.

Top image: Zitona

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The best of the week at EcoSalon, hand-picked for one’s clicking pleasure.

To celebrate the Olympics taking place in jolly old England, we’re adding a touch of British refinement to our Friday 5 this week.

“I say, waiter! I’ll have your best whale steak & cod tongue,” says Sarah Menzies, pondering the ethics of eating a locally plentiful, internationally problematic source of food.

Darling, there are books, and there are books. Looking for a page-turner with an undeniable sense of style? We have 10 dashingly chic suggestions for you.

How many of you wouldn’t date a vegetarian? What? Really? Well – gosh.

Cycle Chic: it’s a problem, and Elly Blue is putting her foot down. Tally-ho!

Finally, as much as we’d like you to pop by for a cup of tea and a nice biscuit, that’s just not practical right now – so we’d like to offer you the next best thing. What say you?

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