colonialism is present in the fashion industry: takes resources away, exploits workers, sends back clothes. I found that their enthusiasm about the topic was apparent in their writing, but I think for me I got stuck on some of the elements which I think could honestly have been saved with a touch more editing. The discussion on colonialism was also very disorganized and chaotic purely because it didn't use case studies in a very productive way in my opinion. I was also shocked that Aja cited Wikipedia multiple times in her book, providing definitions of “gender binary” on page 128-129, and “greenwashing” on page 160. Generally, I think that the discussion became too rudimentary because it bounced around from one country, one case, one time in history to another without outlining where the link was in a very comprehensive way.

While I enjoy her witty comments on social media, I do think it did the book a disservice as a whole, as it was a bit distracting with the serious topics at hand. If we have any hope of addressing the fundamental links between fast fashion and catastrophic climate change, Barber's isn't just a voice we should listen to - it is a voice we MUST listen to. And that's not to say what happens to the environment around these production centres, it is horrific exploitation on every level. Nonetheless, a book with subject matter as important and relevant as this has to get at least 3 stars, especially when its coming from somebody like Aja, who has devoted her career to discussing sustainable and ethical fashion choices whilst simultaneously being a voice for the POC whose voices we unfortunately do not hear when they are working too many hours producing shitty clothing for Boohoo. I think this makes for a great introductory read when it comes to the need to curtail consumption, particularly the effects of the fashion industry as a human rights and environmental issue.If I ever hear someone saying “we give them jobs”, “fashion brands are trying”, “oh look they made a video with a couple of queer people” I will just throw them this book at their faces! Maybe it's a reflection of how much target audiences' attention spans have disintegrated over the past decade. Reading this book was like willfully surrendering my head to someone screaming loudly into my ear for a few hours about topics I already knew.

Consumed takes us through the hideously complex topic of fashion and sustainability, from its knotty colonial roots to what everyday people can do to uproot those systems, today. the author constantly makes huge sweeping generalisations without backing it up in any way and constantly presents her own opinion as fact. Aja's tone is super friendly and transparent throughout which I think would be great for somebody just starting out with reading about fast fashion, consumption and the impacts on the climate. This is by no means a substantial part of the book but it feels like it really encapsulates its chronic lack of substance, at least in the 5th I read before dropping it. This added to overall disappointment: The subtitle and some of the recommendations lead me to expect a deeper analysis.

And if, like me, you were disappointed by this and you're looking for a book around consumption and environmentalism, go read the much more refined No Logo by Naomi Klein. On the bright side, this extended rant has inspired me to seek out other books on consumerism, colonialism, and the climate crisis, and to check out the work of the many activists mentioned throughout. In the second 'unlearning' half of the book, I will help you to understand the uncomfortable truth behind why you consume the way you do. Neither did I read the reviews on “Consumed” prior to reading it, as I wanted to form my own opinion. This is a genuinely bad book, and I don’t say that lightly, but for a non fiction title covering such broad and significant topics, this is an awful attempt.