Drawing on a fascinating mix of social research, personal narratives, and in-depth interviews, Unmasking Corporatized Racism in Retail takes readers on a grand tour of racialized exclusion in contemporary haute couture. From the relentless centering of whiteness in clothing design and fashion marketing to the racist surveillance of Black shoppers in high-end stores, the authors vividly illuminate not only the systemic racism that distorts the industry but also the deep pain this form of racist exclusion inflicts on Black and Brown Americans. Importantly, however, Clark and Craig write from the perspective of communication scholars and fashion enthusiasts who understand, at a deep level, how luxury fashion can serve as a powerful means of self-expression and social communication. In short, the authors of Unmasking Corporatized Racism in Retail come neither to praise nor bury haute couture, but rather to purge it of the racism that excludes so many Americans from its pleasure and power. This book should be widely read - not just by students and scholars, but indeed by anyone who still believes in the power of fashion to change lives and enrich the world.

Timothy Gibson, George Mason University, USA