The clothes we wear say a lot about how we express ourselves. But an investigation into how these clothes ended up in our closets reveals a complex history dating back 400 years ago at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Producer Ashley Kim sits down with Sofi Thanhauser, the author of “Worn: A People’s History of Clothing” to learn how clothing can teach us about economics, gender and imperialism. 

Sofi Thanhauser teaches in the writing department at Pratt Institute. She has received fellowships from the Fulbright Program, MacDowell, and Ucross Foundation. Her writing has appeared in Vox, Essay Daily, and The Establishment, among other publications.

Listen to new episodes every Thursday. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or wherever you listen. That way you never miss an episode. 

Love the show? Consider writing us a review on your podcast app or telling a friend about the show. This really helps us spread the word. 

Visit UnTextbooked.com for learning resources including a glossary of terms. 

Show Notes:

(00:00 ) - What History Can You Find in a Thrift Store?

(01:54 ) - The History of Clothing is Intertwined with Economics

(04:40 ) - How the Clothing Industry Became Global

(06:16 ) - Gender and Clothing Manufacturing

(14:05 ) - Safety on the Factory Floor

(17:31 ) - Being an Ethical Consumer

(21:02 ) - Will Clothes Ever be Local Again?

(22:29 ) - Outro