Stitching the 24-Hour City: Life, Labor, and the Problem of Speed in Seoul

Stitching the 24-Hour City is a book that explores the fast-fashion industry in Dongdaemun, Seoul, South Korea, and the experiences of workers, designers, and labor activists in the market. It argues that speed is an entanglement of uneven paces of life, labor, the market, and the city itself.

Format: Hardback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2021
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Stitching the 24-Hour City: Unveiling the Intense Speed of Garment Production and Everyday Life in Dongdaemun

Dongdaemun, a bustling market in Seoul, South Korea, has emerged as a symbol of the country's vibrant creative economy, bustling nightlife, fast-fashion factories, and shopping plazas. Once a site of uprisings against oppressive working conditions in the 1970s and 1980s, Dongdaemun has transformed into a global urban marketplace that attracts millions of visitors each year. In his book, Stitching the 24-Hour City, Seo Young Park delves into the lives of individuals who have witnessed and experienced the rapidly changing marketplace firsthand.

Park's approach is unique, as he brings readers into close contact with garment designers, workers, and traders who sustain the extraordinary speed of fast-fashion production and circulation. He also explores the work of labor activists who challenge the exploitative practices of the industry. By attending to their narratives and practices of work, Park argues that speed is not a singular drive of acceleration but an entanglement of uneven paces of life, labor, the market, and the city itself.

Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Park sheds light on the human source of the speed that characterizes the 24-hour city. He reveals the intense pressure and stress that workers endure as they strive to meet the ever-increasing demands of fast fashion. He also explores the spatial politics of labor, as workers navigate the congested streets, bustling markets, and towering factories of Dongdaemun.

Stitching the 24-Hour City is a groundbreaking work that challenges our understanding of labor, urban space, and the global economy. It provides a nuanced and empathetic perspective on the lives of workers and activists who are marginalized and exploited by the fast-fashion industry. By documenting their experiences and struggles, Park hopes to inspire a broader conversation about the ethics and sustainability of fast fashion and the importance of workers' rights.

In conclusion, Stitching the 24-Hour City is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of the global urban marketplace. It offers a unique and insightful perspective on the experiences of workers and activists who are at the forefront of the fast-fashion industry. Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Park has contributed to a growing movement for labor justice and sustainability in the fashion industry.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501754265