An expose on the fashion industry written by the Observer's 'Ethical Living' columnist, examining the inhumane and environmentally devastating story behind the clothes we so casually buy and wear. Coming at a time when the global financial crisis and contracting of consumer spending is ushering in a new epoch for the fashion industry, To Die For offers a very plausible vision of how green could really be the new black. Taking particular issue with our current mania for both big-name labels and cheap fashion, To Die For sets an agenda for the urgent changes that can and need to be made by both the industry and the consumer. Far from outlining a future of drab, ethical clothing, Lucy Siegle believes that it is indeed possible to be an 'ethical fashionista', simply by being aware of how and where (and by whom) clothing is manufactured. The global banking crisis has put the consumer at a crossroads: when money is tight should we embrace cheap fast fashion to prop up an already engorged wardrobe, or should we reject this as the ultimate false economy and advocate a return to real fashion, bolstered by the principles of individualism and style pedigree? In this impassioned book, Siegle analyses the global epidemic of unsustainable fashion, taking stock of our economic health and moral accountabilities to expose the pitfalls of fast fashion. Refocusing the debate squarely back on the importance of basic consumer rights, Siegle reveals the truth behind cut price, bulk fashion and the importance of your purchasing decisions, advocating the case for a new sustainable design era where we are assured of value for money: ethically, morally and in real terms.

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By Lucy Siegle

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An expose on the fashion industry written by the Observer's 'Ethical Living' columnist, examining the environmentally devastating and inhumanely shocking story behind the clothes we so casually buy and wear. Taking particular issue with our current mania for both big-name labels and cheap fashion, To Die For sets an agenda for the urgent changes that can and need to be made by both the industry and the consumer. Far from outlining a future of drab, ethical clothing, Lucy Siegle believes that it is indeed possible to be an 'ethical fashionista', simply by being aware of how and where (and by whom) clothing is manufactured. Coming at a time when the fashion industry is being pressured to demand better practice, To Die For offers a very plausible and timely vision of how green really could be the new black. Siegle uses examples of recent must-have items, from designer sunglasses to the ubiquitous military jacket, working out the 'fashion miles' that each component has travelled, as well as examining the humanitarian and economical issues attached to each item like an invisible label. She also sets herself the challenge of revolutionising her wardrobe and wearing clothes that offend neither the ethically aware nor the fashion-conscious. Key title / Launched with a high impact, provocative PR campaign supported by major digitial marketing activity / The shocking truth behind the fashion industry. The Observer's 'Ethical Living' columnist, Lucy Siegle reveals the startling facts about where most of today's high-street clothing comes from. / The book every fashion-conscious female should have if they truly care about the environmental issues surrounding how and where their clothes are made. / Be green-friendly and still adhere to the current fashion - Lucy Siegle expertly shows us how to revolutionise our wardrobes. / Guaranteed review and feature coverage across the media including women's glossies for this well-known and well-connected journalist. / Competition: Naomi Klein, Felicity Lawrence