Iconographic Book

The Invisible Hands Iconographic Book documents the historical research conducted throughout the project. It visually traces an evolution of labor within the fashion system from past to present, drawing comparisons in the treatment of immigrant labor and examining both the significant and minimal changes made to improve these conditions. Through exploring early evidence of the use of underpaid, overworked, and child labor among newly immigrated families in America between 1880 - 1930, the book offers a deeper analysis of the racial dynamics underlying the shift in fashion labor outside of high income countries. As labor conditions within production hubs in Southeast and Central Asia became more widely understood in the early 2000s, efforts to restore the perception of labor to differentiate luxury and artisanal brand quality at times resulted in the reshoring of labor. However, this restructuring can result in the exploitation, knowingly or unknowingly, of immigrant communities. This book aims to present historical context while connecting the viewer to the real people who construct the world’s clothing — those affected by its consumption.