Dressed to Kill: Reviewing Emma Hakansson's Total Ethics Fashion

Abstract

This review examines Total Ethics Fashion (2023) by Emma Hakansson, a concise yet powerful text that calls for a “total ethics” approach to dismantle the systemic harms caused by the fashion industry toward humans, animals, and the environment. Drawing from her extensive professional and personal experience, Hakansson, founder of Collective Fashion Justice, critiques the deeply flawed yet widely accepted commercial model that produces 100 billion garments annually for just 8 billion people. The review highlights the text's engaging and incisive prose, Hakansson's effective use of data and visuals, and the practical value of her concluding consumer manifesto. In the end, it reflects upon the significant challenge of shifting a mainstream audience that continues to prioritize personal comfort over ethical considerations.