Can Your Outfit Change the World?

December 15, 2017
Not all activism starts with fundraising or marching. You can begin in small ways, like with your clothes. Beginning with her story about making a prom dress from her math homework and then donating her prom-dress funds to charity (not as original as it sounds, as a simple Google search reveals), white author Paisley leads teens toward an activist approach to their clothing. Starting with the how and the who of clothing manufacturing, she asks readers to think about the impact of the clothes they wear on the environment and on the people who make them under exhausting conditions. Ethical clothing brands and stores are highlighted, with a Canadian slant. (Both author and publisher are Canadian.) After discussions of methods to reduce, reuse, and recycle, the latter third of the book focuses on the bigger picture, such as understanding messages in fashion and providing examples of how teens can speak out. Peppered with photos and "pop quiz" sidebars to inspire further thought, this slim volume gallops through fashion activism. Discussion of diversity and gender roles in fashion is a welcome inclusion in addition to this book's solid information. Unfortunately, the glossy slickness of the presentation might keep this book out of the hands of those who might be interested. A good introduction to issues within the fashion industry, but activist readers might need some encouragement to pick it up. (glossary, resources) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

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January 1, 2018
Grades 6-9 Canadian writer, activist, speaker, and college student Paisley follows up Can Your Smartphone Change the World? (2017) with a second book in her PopActivism series. The opening chapter features a story (also told in the previous volume) about her 2015 prom dress and why photos of it went viral. From there, she encourages readers to have an impact as consumers by learning about questionable practices in the fashion industry and making thoughtful decisions about what they purchase and wear. She brings up many topics, from environmental concerns (the nonbiodegradable nature of polyester; chemical pollution from dyes) to the ethical ones (exploitation of child labor; inhumane working conditions). She recommends ethical brands and shopping practices. The text reads like a series of topical blog posts that are good as far as they go and sometimes linked to websites. The lack of an index limits the book's usefulness. Colorful design elements and photos (many featuring the author) help make this a quick, attractive read. This paperback will find an audience among readers concerned about how their clothing choices impact their world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)