Book review: Consumed
I recently bumped into references of Aja Barber twice in a row within a couple of days. Once on another Instagram account I follow, and secondly on NPR. Because the universe was nudging me, I checked out her Instagram, and then purchased her book.
This book focuses on fast fashion. Though there have definitely been periods in my life where I have purchased more clothing than I needed, I have never really considered myself a “fast fashion” person. But I still felt that this book was worth the read!
I would say the strongest personal reflection that this book sparked in me was - what is the cost of a bargain? As a person who has been raised to never pay full price, and to always wait for the sale, what is that doing to people at the beginning of the supply chain? If the company over-manufactured so many products that they have a surplus left to put the items on deep discount, that means they probably weren’t paying the people making those items a fair wage - whether it be clothes or another item. It was definitely a reminder to consider the origin of the items I buy more than just the price tag.
Aja also has a lot of important things to say about colonialism and how it continues to impact the Global South. It really drives home that clothing is hurting a vast number of people at both the beginning and the end of each item’s lifecycle.
Overall, it was a very enlightening read. If you are interested in taking a closer look at what you consume, the business practices of most major manufacturers, and general awareness of the impact you can have by shopping responsibly, it’s definitely for you!