Fashion is one of the most powerful industries in the world, accounting
for 6% of global consumption and growing steadily. Since the 1980s and
the birth of the neoliberal economy, it has emerged as the glittering
face of capitalism, bringing together prestige, power and beauty and
occupying a central place in media and consumer fantasies. Yet the
fashion industry, which claims to offer highly desirable job
opportunities, relies significantly on job instability, not just in
outsourced garment production but at the very heart of its creative
production of luxury.
Based on an in-depth investigation involving stylists, models,
designers, hairdressers, make-up artists, photographers and interns,
anthropologist Giulia Mensitieri goes behind fashion's glamorous facade
to explore the lived realities of working in the industry. This
challenging book lays bare the working conditions of 'the most beautiful
job in the world, ' showing that exploitation isn't confined to
sweatshops abroad or sexual harassment of models, but exists at the very
heart of the powerful symbolic and economic centre of fashion.