Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

LOVE this book!! Alison Matthews David knows her stuff! We learned about "Fashion Victims" after attending a webinar featuring the author. We already owned her other book "Killer Style" and couldn't put it down. We knew that we wanted to dive deeper...and this was our book!There is A LOT of information and it's exactly what we wanted. The author tied in every aspect of what was going on during the timeframe of each topic. For example, the chapter entitled Mercurial Hats...I thought I understood...I knew about the Mad Hatters and I read the two page layout in the book "Killer Style". I quickly discovered that I had A LOT to learn!Alison Matthews David takes in every perspective. There's so much more than this but here's an example: used beaver fur worn on skin first makes the best hats (so gross and who knew?!), overhunted beaver fur becomes scarce, trade agreement shifts sell Canadian beaver fur to another country, economics and availability drive the hunt for cheaper fur alternatives, fur alternatives are plentiful but don't felt well, chemicals mixed with fur alternatives make decent hats, details of the "carroting" process and every point that injures the workers, and on and on. That really is just scratching the surface of how well she connects every aspect of what was happening in society at that time.Alison Matthews David gives a thorough picture of what was going on when these options were each created, developed, marketed, worn, and discovered as dangerous...and it's not a simple line.Here are the main chapters:Diseased Dress: Germ WarfareToxic Techniques: Mercurial HatsPoisonous Pigments: Arsenical GreensDangerous Dyes: A Pretty, Deadly RainbowEntangled and Strangled: Caught in the MachineInflammatory Fabrics: Flaming Tutus and Combustible CrinolinesExplosive Fakes: Plastic Combs and Artificial SilkSide note...I've been homeschooling my 11 and 13 year old daughters. The author's other book "Killer Style" caught their attention and allowed me to expand each topic to include aspects of history, science, social studies, and economics. This book "Fashion Victims" was EXACTLY what we needed to tie it all together! Alison Matthews David helps bring together all the aspects of what was going on during each timeframe to help it all CONNECT. She's brilliant!

The best review of the dangers fashionable attire posed to the creators, the makers and the wearers in the 19th century and beyond. Arsenic and toxic lead figured prominently. Beware: the inks in this book printed in China made me ill. The book is IMO as dangerous to its readers as fashion in the 19th century to its wearers. Kindle this book only.

This book was very, very interesting. Detailed and concise it doesn't flounder at all. The tone is interesting, not boring at all. The author does seem to focus more on the French than English fashions. I'm not sure if it's because that's where most of the fashions talked about originated or perhaps it's just her area of expertise.Either way, it's an in-depth, and often scary, look at the world of fashion, past and present. Sadly it seems that most toxic fashion today is mostly harmful to workers in countries whose laws don't protect their employees.

It is a well written book with good points to it. It was like a car wreak; you don't want to look but you can't look away. What is sad is that danger to textile manufacturers is still a major problem in the development. The author also points out the need for change and some things we can do to bring it about. All in all, a sobering read.

this is an awesome book. Beautiful pictures and very enlightening on how we are still creating products that are not good for us. Highly recommend

This book is beautiful and informative, but the size is a bit unwieldy if you like to carry books with you. It’s more a coffee table book, but it’s an excellent source of information and many examples.

Amazingly well written, a lot like a academic tome, but not boring. I wasn't expecting to read a more academic book, but it is well done, excellent stories and references and well, I learned a lot about the different dyes, professions and overall health of clothing and accessory workers throughout the different centuries. Amazing to me that these poor people suffered so much for 'beauty'. I am aware that it still happens, and wish it were more discussed, talked about and raised up to the public. Most people have no idea what 'fast fashion' does to people, to the environment, to the world.Excellent book if one is interested in fashion, history of fashion, dressmaking, haberdashery and or just the history of dress.

Fabulous reference and well written.

Fabulous book highlighting the history of safety horrors in the fashion industry. Excellent information and photographs- mercury used in the top hat industry, highly inflammable materials in the days before health and safety-think of Miss Haversham's fate in Great Expectations! Ideal for fashion students.Sadly and ironically it is still often the poor who are producing our clothes for a pittance today.My 4 star rating is due to the fact my first book did not arrive. I had to contact Amazon who immediately sent a replacement.

Utterly interesting read, vanity and common sense never seem to go together very well. Also a couple of interesting references to further reading on how the situation is hardly any better today.

This is an excellent present for those who are interested in fashion & want to delve into its horrific history. It is well researched, beautifully illustrated with contemporary images and can be picked up and read at random. The paperback version is very reasonably priced.

My daughter is a fashion buyer so this is for a Christmas gift. A bit gorey but interesting too. Historically factual. Dust jacket was a bit scuffed but acceptable. Thought the photos would be a bit more lavish. Useful gift for someone in the business.

Fascinating