Total Ethics Fashion: People, Our Fellow Animals and the Planet Before Profit, Emma Hakansson

Total Ethics Fashion is a manifesto‑cum‑handbook for a new ethical paradigm in clothing—one that places humans, non‑human animals, and planetary wellbeing above profit. Emma Hakansson exposes how “sustainable”, “ethical” and “vegan” fashion often operate in isolation, masking harms in labour exploitation, animal cruelty, or environmental degradation. Through compelling case studies and the “Total Ethics Fashion manifesto,” the book challenges readers to imagine practical, systemic shifts—from fibre sourcing and factory conditions to material justice and interspecies respect.

Concise yet potent, the volume interweaves sharp critique with hopeful pragmatism: it outlines daily decisions, policy frameworks, and design interventions that align with this holistic ethics. With just over a hundred pages, it’s accessible for industry professionals, policy‑makers, and everyday wardrobe thinkers alike—a tool for “caringly stylish” living that refuses to prioritise one life form over another.

About the Author
Emma Hakansson is the founding director of Collective Fashion Justice, the Australian‑Swedish writer, activist, and filmmaker behind a movement that champions a holistic approach to fashion ethics. She coined the term “Total Ethics Fashion” to emphasise the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and animal justice.

Publication date: 2024
Publisher: Heads & Tales
Pages: 112
ISBN: 9781761450259