To Dye For audiobook cover - How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick

To Dye For

How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick

Alden Wicker

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Categories:
EconomicsSociety & CultureNature & the Environment

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To Dye For
The Flight Attendant Crisis+
Historical Precedents+
Health Impacts on Consumers+
The Overseas Human Toll+
Actionable Solutions+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
Why are airline flight attendants considered an ideal group for observing the health impacts of toxic clothing?
  • A. They are exposed to higher atmospheric pressures which exacerbate chemical reactions on the skin.
  • B. They wear the exact same uniform pieces every day and adopt new wardrobe changes simultaneously.
  • C. They are legally required to undergo frequent medical testing that tracks chemical exposure.
  • D. They are more likely to purchase ultra-fast-fashion brands during international layovers.
Question 2 of 7
According to the text, why are children potentially more vulnerable than adults to the toxic chemicals found in clothing?
  • A. Their skin is thinner and absorbs liquid chemicals directly from fabrics at a much faster rate.
  • B. They lack the mast cells required to fight off environmental toxins found in synthetic dyes.
  • C. They spend more time crawling on the ground, breathing in contaminated dust, and putting their hands in their mouths.
  • D. They are statistically more likely to wear synthetic performance fabrics than adults.
Question 3 of 7
What dark history is associated with the production of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a popular vegan leather alternative?
  • A. It caused widespread heavy metal poisoning due to the chromium used to dye it.
  • B. Plant workers died from a rare liver cancer caused by exposure to vinyl chloride.
  • C. It triggered a spike in reactive asthma among consumers who wore it regularly.
  • D. Workers developed severe neurological shakes and paralysis similar to 19th-century hatmakers.
Question 4 of 7
How do endocrine-disrupting chemicals like PFAS and phthalates in clothing primarily affect the human body?
  • A. They permanently damage the respiratory system by scarring lung tissue.
  • B. They destroy the body's mast cells, leading to a severely weakened immune system.
  • C. They cause immediate, severe allergic skin burns upon contact with sweat.
  • D. They interfere with the body’s hormonal messenger network, which can severely impact fertility.
Question 5 of 7
What role do 'mast cells' play in the development of chemical sensitivities?
  • A. They become over-sensitized to toxins and treat everyday scents as threats, causing disproportionate immune responses.
  • B. They fail to recognize synthetic chemicals, allowing toxins to enter the bloodstream without resistance.
  • C. They are destroyed by formaldehyde, leaving the body entirely defenseless against autoimmune diseases.
  • D. They mutate when exposed to heavy metals, leading directly to the development of skin lesions.
Question 6 of 7
How do some less scrupulous overseas textile suppliers manage to bypass restricted substances lists?
  • A. They bribe international auditors to falsify their environmental impact reports.
  • B. They pass an annual certification test and then secretly swap out approved chemicals for cheaper, unregulated ones.
  • C. They claim their chemical formulas are proprietary secrets protected by international trade laws.
  • D. They outsource the dyeing process to completely unregulated factories in neighboring countries.
Question 7 of 7
Which of the following is a recommended action for consumers to protect themselves from toxic chemicals in their wardrobes?
  • A. Frequently dry clean all new clothes to ensure industrial solvents remove the manufacturing chemicals.
  • B. Opt for performance fabrics that boast wrinkle and stain resistance, as they are treated with safer modern synthetics.
  • C. Buy secondhand clothing because it has had the time to off-gas harmful chemicals.
  • D. Stick exclusively to bright synthetic dyes, which have replaced the highly toxic arsenic dyes of the past.

To Dye For — Full Chapter Overview

To Dye For Summary & Overview

To Dye For (2023) exposes how the fashion industry harms human health and exploits workers through its use of toxic dyes and lack of supply chain transparency. It delves into the environmental and human costs behind our clothes, while also spotlighting companies innovating health-conscious dyes and production methods. Ultimately, it challenges consumers to make informed choices in order to pressure brands to clean up one of the world’s dirtiest industries.

Who Should Listen to To Dye For?

  • Consumers wanting to make health- and eco-conscious clothing choices
  • Fashion and textile industry professionals
  • Environmental and workers’ rights activists

About the Author: Alden Wicker

Alden Wicker is an award-winning journalist who writes about sustainable fashion and the impact of the clothing industry. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, The Cut, Vox, Vogue, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, and many other publications. She’s also the founder of Eco-Cult, a blog dedicated to sharing information about sustainability and ethics in fashion. 

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