Worn by Sofi Thanhauser

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Worn by Sofi Thanhauser: Silk

Silk

BBC Radio 4 - Worn by Sofi Thanhauser, Silk

Sofi Thanhauser travels to China to meet those struggling to keep silk production afloat.

China is synonymous with garment manufacturing, but Mr Bo is worried about the future of his silk filature. Sofi Thanhauser travels to the Yangtze River Delta to meet him.

Sofi Thanhauser loves clothes. 

She has travelled across the world to meet people making linen, cotton, silk, synthetics and wool to get to the heart of an industry which is worth four times the global arms trade. 

In Worn: A People’s History of Clothing, Sofi examines what’s changed in the history of fabric production and explores local stories of craft, labour and industry. She wants to know how and why we moved from a system of making fabric for ourselves to a complex one that sullies creativity, the environment and worker rights. 

Between 2000 and 2014, clothing production around the world doubled. This was possible because clothing had become almost completely disposable. But fast fashion’s evils aren’t new problems, textile making has been damaging our environment for centuries.  

In this episode, Sofi travels to southern China to meet Mr Bo, the owner of a silk filature where strands of silk are unravelled from the silkworm’s cocoon. But business is hard and he fears for the future.  

Read by Lanna Joffrey
Abridged and produced by Alexandra Quinn
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Factual: History

American author Sofi Thanhauser explores stories of craft and labour through five fabrics.

Book of the Week: In Worn: A People's History of Clothing, Sofi examines what's changed in the history of fabric production and explores local stories of craft, labour and industry

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