Part-memoir, part-primer on the problems in the fashion industry, Consumed is an easy to read intro to the harms that are being wreaked by the unquenchable thirst for more, more, more. For me it was a bit preaching to the choir as I'm well aware of these issues, but I think for people who are new to this, it will be eye-opening and persuasive.

This is a very passionate book. A few years ago I went down the rabbit hole of thinking about my own consumption. Every time I reach a position I think I’m comfortable in justifying, even to myself, something happens to change things. Right now it’s the comfort of using disposable diapers, something I always hoped to rise above.

This book is not about the larger environmental health but does touch upon relevant details. I had it on my virtual shelf for a long time before I actually got around to reading it and the truth is hard to digest.

The author does bring colonialism into focus on terms of what preceded the current state of affairs in the world when it comes to green washing in corporate structures.

The main focus of the book is, however, entirely on fast fashion and all that that entails. I did make a mental now to hone my own sewing skills and/ or get more clothes tailored in the future, but if either of those options are possible, only time will tell!

My copy was a review one although it’s been a while since the book was released. I mention this because for a point about cultural appropriation the author talks of Indian and Pakistani girls wearing bindis in the past, which I sincerely hope was a typo and not in the final copy) because the latter wouldn’t be wearing bindis in the first place.

The tone of the book is of someone advising and scolding another and rightly so, but it may not be something people would be willing to peruse. It is easier to not know the details and indulge for many people. Once given the details, it is harder to ignore the issue at large.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

It was time to update our understanding of consumerism and Aja Barber does this explosively.
The first half explores issues with consumerism while the second half suggests reasons it might be so important to us, which is helpful if we are trying to do things differently.

I believe this book has a very important message to share about the dangers of over- consumption, and the way it stems from colonialism. The issue I have with it, is that it's quite a hard read. The book jumps around from subject to subject, with few case studies, and lacks organisation. It's hard to get absorbed and keep reading. However, the key message is that our society is geared for consumption, and it is destroying our wellbeing and our planet. We need to break this cycle of buying and producing more and more stuff.

An interesting book about fast fashion and how the fashion industry is affecting the environment. I liked that it's educational without being too dense, and acknowledges that the reader may not know loads about the issues included without treating you like a preschooler. Would recommend this to people looking to move away from fast fashion, or wanting to talk to others about its issues.

I went into this story ready for a gritty and realistic look at the state of the clothing industry and the unacceptable practices we’ve seen seep into the majority of our ‘reliable’ brands.

Sadly I came out disappointed by the writing, truly confused how this passed the sniff test and didn’t enlist the support of a ghost writer.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.

Consumed is the anti venom for Black Friday madness. (How does Friday last for 2 weeks? ) It’s a sharp and engaging critique of fast fashion which provides a guide for how, and critically, why we need to reduce our consumption.

Aja Barber draws on her own experiences of over consumption reflecting that; “The business model of consumption is making you feel bad, and then selling you something to make you feel better.” Barber acknowledges how difficult it is to break this cycle but gives all the motivation and inspiration one might need!

There were a few ideas in the book that were new to me, such as; the market in Ghana being flooded with ‘recycled’ western clothing which creates a chain of problems and debt. Also the idea of buying something to wear once is insane to me but then I’m probably not the target audience for this book…however I did learn a few tips on how I can make more of an impact to create change in the industry.

Consumed looks at how the fashion industry is colonialist, racist and environmentally damaging. It reads like an informative and conversational podcast and I would definitely recommend to anyone for a first eye opening view into the battle against the raging destruction of late stage capitalism.

For further reading I recommend No Logo by Naomi Klein.

Thanks to @octopusbookd for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is valuable. For the uninitiated but passionate climate change advocates, it is an excellent primer. I would give it 5 stars but for the fact it is light on referencing and footnotes and that undermines the credibility of the claims/facts at times. It is a casual, and therefore accessible, book however so it’s impact cannot be overlooked despite this.

This book is an absolute must-read to learn about the hidden truths of fast fashion. Aja Barber has done some amazing research, which is explained clearly and without any sugar-coating. From describing the life cycle of garments, to her own experience in the world of fashion while exposing the link between fast fashion and colonialism, this book gives you a full picture of the current disastrous situation. Perfect for fans of the podcasts Clotheshorse and The Wardrobe Crisis.