“I love my clothes,” writes Lucianne in Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion. “On a good day, they make me feel beautiful. On a bad day, at the very least they help me feel composed.”  

Seeing Lucianne write about clothes as though they’re vital to her wellbeing is to be expected. She’s a fashion editor and writer who has worked for brands all around the world, including in Melbourne, Sydney, London and Paris. It’s basically her job to think about good clothing.  

It’s also what makes her book on sustainable fashion such an enjoyable read. Sundressed isn’t the type of text that lectures or makes you feel guilty about clothing. Rather, Lucianne’s insightful prose, informed by years of industry experience and research, encourages us to look at our wardrobes with love and see the potential for environmental good in what we wear.  

There’s a big emphasis on what those clothes are made from and why natural fibres are the fashion industry’s future. “We need to feel really good in [our clothes]: they need to look good, feel nice to wear and be comfortable,” she tells us. “Natural fibres are the best option for those things because they’re superior in function and form.” 

Think about the drape of a pair of silk pants, the universal fit of a cotton shirt or the way wool reacts to our body temperature. Consider the softness of a cashmere sweater against the skin or the light weight of a linen dress. We know natural fibres feel good to wear, which is another tenet of Sundressed’s argument.