Review: Eco Chic by Matilda Lee

 Fashion and ethical issues; how contrary could two notions be? After all fashion is a purely selfish and indulgent beast. We don’t actually need most of the stuff hanging in our wardrobes yet we convince ourselves otherwise, pandering to our consumer desires making fatal choices along the way. Apparently the average woman could afford a brand new car with the amount she spends in a lifetime on unworn clothes. Yes, we’ve all made those purchasing gaffes which just goes to show how complacent we all are when it comes to the fashion chain; from raw material to finished garment hanging in your favourite store at bargain basement prices.

 Apparently fashion is now starting to ride a wave of change, although some have accused the big boys of retail of playing the eco card for marketing purposes, slowly but surely eco-fashion is shedding its unstylish image and consumers are asking more questions about what they are buying into. As a result the ethical section on the fashion bookcase is filling up nicely, all using 100% recycled paper naturally. And the latest offing comes from Matilda Lee, the Ecologist’s Green Pages editor.

{mosimage}
 Entitled ‘Eco Chic’, Lee wastes no time explaining the truth behind the worlds third or forth largest industry, this is no lightweight shopping guide for ethical threads, although there is some of that as well. Eco Chic provides the full story into the labour behind the labels and is just as informative for clothing manufacturers and retailers as it is for general consumers wanting to make informed choices.

 "This book provides essential information about how we consume and how our clothes will help decide the future of our planet." – Katharine Hamnett

 Eco Chic strives to combine those contrary notions; fashion and ethics. And while the fashion industry has a long way to go before getting its conscience together this book does show that you can make the right choices and retain your sense of style at the same time.

 Out in paperback on 30 November, a great gift for the festive season. 
 

Eco Chic by Matilda Lee

 £7.99 from all good bookshops

 ISBN 978-1-85675-289-3

 www.octopusbooks.co.uk 

  
By JoJo Iles