In a climate of increasing anxiety about the environmental and social impact of the contemporary global fashion industry, Rachel Worth explores 'hidden' aspects of the life of clothing - the historical contexts and processes that have influenced our clothing choices. She argues that understanding the past can help us address the challenges we face today in making more 'sustainable' decisions about the contents of our wardrobes and reconnect us with the intrinsic aesthetic qualities of our clothes, and who makes them. Drawing on the social history of dress, philosophy, fictional literature and current thinking in economics, The Hidden Life of Clothing does not offer simplistic solutions, but does explore ways in which it might be possible to bridge divides between a knowledge of the past, current individual choice, and new directions for future action. By taking ownership of our personal clothing choices rather than feeling continually pressurised by sophisticated marketing and by 'influencers', the author suggests that we can rethink our wardrobes in philosophical and practical ways in order to create a sense of order and beauty in our lives and to wrest control back from the chaos of seemingly endless 'choice' that perpetuates unsustainable and impersonal fashion.