Putting on the Dog

The Animal Origins of What We Wear

By: Melissa Kwasny

Write A Review

Paperback | 26 April 2022

Sorry, we are not able to source the book you are looking for right now.

We did a search for other books with a similar title, however there were no matches. You can try selecting from a similar category, click on the author's name, or use the search box above to find your book.

In Putting on the Dog, Melissa Kwasny explores the age-old relationship between humans and the animals that have provided us with our clothing: leather, wool, silk, feathers, pearls, and fur. From silkworms grown on plantations in Japan and mink farms off Denmark's western coast to pearl beds in the Sea of Cortes, Kwasny offers firsthand accounts of traditions and manufacturing methods—aboriginal to modern—and descriptions of the marvel and miracle of the clothing itself. What emerges is a fresh look at the cultural history of fashion.

Kwasny travels the globe to visit both large-scale industrial manufacturers and community-based, often subsistence production by people who have spent their lives working with animals—farmers, ranchers, tanners, weavers, shepherds, and artisans. She examines historical rates of consumption and efforts to move toward sustainability, all while considering animal welfare, worker safety, environmental health, product accountability, and respect for indigenous knowledge and practice.

At its heart, Putting on the Dog demonstrates how what we choose to wear represents one of our most profound engagements with the natural world.

Industry Reviews

"A fascinating and highly readable dive into the world of animal-based clothing production." - Treehugger

"Kwasny takes a wide-ranging tour of the apparel industry, and concludes that when you take into account things like worker safety, environmental health, and the sources of synthetic fabrics, some animal-based clothing doesn't look so bad. It's thought-provoking stuff." - Grist

"A fascinating book..." - Breakfast in Montana

"Kwasny has produced a fascinating read and done a service by highlighting the continued importance of animal products in our lives." - The Truth About Fur

"Kwasny is as reasoned and clear-eyed as writers come. In addition to mesmerizing stories about how the world's leather, wool, feathers, fur, silk, and pearls are created, her book is a call for all of us to confront the ramifications of our food and clothing decisions."- Foreword Reviews

"What's most interesting about Kwasny's all-around illuminating book is that it offers no easy answers and shows just how widely views range on the ideal relationship that humans ought to have with animals." - Quartzy

"Open-minded, complex, lyrical and unpretentious. Anyone interested in the production side of fashion-or any curious owner of a wool sweater or silk scarf-will find their interest rewarded." - Publishers Weekly

"A first-rate, engaging exploration of the natural and environmental origins of clothing, interwoven with delightful narratives of Kwasny's investigative travels." - Dale Peterson, author of Jane Goodall: The Woman Who Redefined Man

"This masterfully written book asks us to trace our clothing back to its source, beyond the store, beyond the factory, and look the originating animal in the eye. It is full of musk ox, mink, quetzal, oysters, and questions with no easy answers. Kwasny has given us the Omnivore's Dilemma of fashion."- Kim Todd author of Chrysalis, Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.