The Winding Story of Threads. How Clothing and Materials Influenced Human History

In her panoramic social study, Sophie Tanhouser brilliantly tells the reader five stories — Linen, Cotton, Silk, Synthetics, Wool — about the things we wear and their origin, presenting our world in an unexpected light. With her, we enter the court of Louis XIV and labor camps in Xinjiang. We learn how textiles were dyed using moss, mollusk shells, bark, saffron, and insects, exploring the fascinating regional weaving traditions and how the modern Western industry has turned our clothing into a uniform and short-lived form popularized by 'fast fashion' brands.
Tanhouser vividly shows how the fashion industry has become a major factor in environmental pollution and how it relies on poorly paid and oppressed labor. At the same time, we will be introduced to micro-communities, textile companies, and clothing manufacturers in different corners of the world that are reviving traditional, ethical methods of production.

Our clothing does not come from the countries listed on the labels and does not appear ready-made in factories — it is deeply connected to human history.