CASE STUDIES 

IDEAS, PRACTICES & INNOVATIONS

Book Reviews

The Green Wardrobe Guide, by Beth Fiteni
​Reviewed by: Mai Nhia Vang, Apparel, Merchandising and Design Department, St. Catherine University
Prior to reading the book, I had very little to no formal education about the fashion industry, fibers and/or textiles.  After having read the book, it really opened my eyes and gave me a better appreciation for the industry.
Fiteni did a fabulous job writing about the different plant fibers, such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, lyocell, soy, ingeo, and algae. For each fiber, the author talks about the process and harvesting of each plant, noting that some plants are easier to grow and harvest than others. Fiteni also discussed some of the pros and cons of each fiber. For example, Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and can be regrown relatively quick, however, the process of turning it into a fiber is a long process and it involves many chemicals. When it is time to put the price tag on, a lot goes into consideration. Surprisingly, many of these green fibers are not as costly as one would imagine.  I would recommend this book to anyone it is well written and easy to read and follow.


Simplifying Corporate Responsibility by Dr. Charu Jain
Reviewed by: Dr. Anupama Pasricha

This book is written with the lens of the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. Dr. Jain’s argument that sustainability should be a fundamental value as well as a core business strategy that is financially sound and viable in the long run. This resonates with Will Marr’s claim that sustainability is good for business (CSRNotes, 2010). It is encouraging to learn that sustainability has become a “must have” agenda for most organizations. In one of my recent conversations with Target Corporation PD&D designers, the sustainability is a “must have” agenda too.  Proposed steps are well supported by author’s first-hand experience. The book is divided in three focus areas-understanding sustainability, implementing sustainability, and managing and measuring sustainability. This book has a potential to be a valuable resource for companies and professionals who have a direct job role to implement sustainability within the company/organization.
Sustainable Fashion: What’s Next? A Conversation about Issues, Practices & Possibilities, by Janet Hethorn & Connie Ulasewicz
Reviewed by: Amazon customers
 
"It is clear from not only the breadth of discussions in the chapters but also the experts that joined in the conversations in the book that the authors are not only knowledgeable about the topic but also very passionate about raising the level of the discussion to not only have the reader think about it, but to make a difference in the world going forward for our children and grandchildren.” The book continues to engage the reader in understanding and being a part of the issues and consequences that designers, marketers, and product developers face as they , “ rethink processes and generate new ideas to produce or reproduce garments with a sense of ethics, using appropriate resources and manufacturing them in humane conditions that together sustain the planet and its people” (pg. xxvii).
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
GUIDELINES II A Handbook on Sustainability in Fashion, edited by Helle Kruger, Eva Himmelstrup Dahl, Tina Hjort, and Drude-Kathrine Planthinne
Reviewed by, Tasha L .Lewis
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The editors have successfully compiled a book that is formatted for a fashion-oriented audience – clearly demonstrating sensitivity to the visual impression of the text and layouts. Due to its thorough coverage of the fashion supply chain, which enables readers to grasp the complexities of achieving sustainability, this handbook is very appropriate for the fashion student as well as for the fashion professional seeking a deeper understanding of sustainable issues. The case studies presented throughout the book are representative of a diverse set of best practices among global apparel firms and displayed in a concise manner for the reader. These cases would also be suitable on their own as supplemental readings accompanying other course readings.  The mapping of the cases also serves as a model for readers to conduct their own analysis and could be an excellent assignment for students to apply concepts to additional companies.I have referenced the text as I developed content for a new course and found it to be extremely valuable as a resource, particularly for its coverage of international organizations, standards, designers and fashion firms.
The Fashion Designers Sustainable Sourcebook, by fashiondex.com

The Fashion Designer's Sustainable Sourcebook, is the first directory of apparel industry suppliers who collectively want to help lessen the impact our industry is making on our environment. Geared to designers, manufacturers, merchandisers and buyers in the men’s, women’s, children’s, accessory, wearable tech and home fashion markets. This up-to-date guide lists nationwide suppliers of all types of fabrics, trims, yarns, services, manufacturers and more practicing sustainable production processes, including: organic, waterless, no-waste, recycled, compostable, non-toxic chemicals and eco-friendly in socially-responsible factories.Listings include: Company name, address, phone, fax, email and website, Sales manager's name, Products they sustainably manufacture or sell, Minimums for production, Price points, markets they cater to and more.
Fashion Fibers, by Annie Gullingrad
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Fashion Fibers: Designing for Sustainability,  is an accessible reference tool for fashion students and designers who want to learn how to make decisions to enhance the sustainability potential in common fibers used in the fashion industry. Drawing upon the cradle to cradle philosophy and industry expertise, the book introduces readers to the fundamentals of fiber production and the product lifecycle.
Fashion Law and Compliance, by Deana Clark-Esposito
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​A Practical Guide to Fashion Law and Compliance, explains how to protect your business through prevention with a fashion compliance program. The book takes a merchandise-centric “how-to” approach. It explains the laws related to fashion compliance including, labeling, marketing, testing, importing and exporting, record keeping, and more. Written by a fashion-law expert, the book includes interviews with professionals and discusses the European Union apparel label law, as well as relevant United States’ laws, to help you run your fashion business.