Working the Fabric - (Anthropology at Work) by Joana Nascimento (Paperback)

About the Book

Trademark-protected since 1910, the famous woollen cloth known as Harris Tweed can only be produced in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland - yet it is exported to over 50 countries around the world. Examining contemporary experiences of work and life, this book is the first in-depth anthropological study of the renowned textile industry, complementing and updating existing historical and ethnographic research.

Book Synopsis

Trademark-protected since 1910, the famous woollen cloth known as Harris Tweed can only be produced in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland - yet it is exported to over 50 countries around the world. Examining contemporary experiences of work and life, this book is the first in-depth anthropological study of the renowned textile industry, complementing and updating existing historical and ethnographic research. Drawing on one year of ethnographic fieldwork research in the Outer Hebrides, it offers an intimate account of industry workers' lived experiences and contributes to anthropological debates on work and labour, cultural production, inclusive belonging and place-making in global capitalism.

Review Quotes

"Nascimento provides a lively and ethnographically rich account of how this iconic fashion product is made and what it means for those who produce it." - Exertions

"This book is a beautifully-crafted ethnography of the multiple and complex meanings of weaving among those involved in the Harris Tweed industry. The book takes the central concept of 'work' but expands it through both ethnography and theory." - Magnus Course, University of Edinburgh

"This is an excellent book ... It is a smart and refreshing contribution to the anthropology of work and labour, showing the importance of place and place-making in the production of a global commodity. I wish more academic books were written in the same jargon-free and engaging style." - Rebecca Prentice, University of Sussex

About the Author

Joana Nascimento is a social anthropologist based at the University of Cambridge, where she works as a postdoctoral teaching and research associate. Her research explores the social, cultural and political-economic complexities of contemporary work and livelihood strategies.