Author and speaker Virginia Postrel has spent many years researching and writing about, among other things, various aspects of the economics and societal context of fashion, glamour, and consumer choice. A few years ago her book The Fabric of Civilization tackled the history and global effects of fabric-making, dyeing, the clothing trade, and other textile-related activities. So when host David Priess had his curiosity piqued by some displays at the International Spy Museum related to silk, dyes, and espionage, he knew who to call.
David talked to Virginia about the origins of string and of fabric, togas in fiction and reality, the value of purple in the Roman Empire, the importance of fabrics for outfitting armies and making warships' sails, the development of weaving, how textile merchants led to the modern political economy, Jakob Fugger, Chinese silk and espionage, Spain's 200 year monopoly on vibrant reds, efforts to steal Spain' cochineal secret, the long history of indigo, French efforts to steal Indian indigo, the invention of synthetic dyes, modern sneaker culture and conceptions of value, Jackie Kennedy, fashion and glamour on the world stage today, and more.
Among the works mentioned in this episode:
Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lawfare Daily: From Cranes to TikTok, from AI to Connected Cars: Protecting U.S. Information and Communications Technology and Services
Lawfare Daily: Dmitri Alperovitch on ‘World on the Brink’
Trump Trials and Tribulations: N.Y. Trial Dispatch (Apr. 30, 2024)
Chatter: How the Cold War Made Miami with Vince Houghton
Lawfare Daily: How Congress Passed the National Security Package with Molly Reynolds
Lawfare Daily: Justin Sherman on the Benefits and Limits of a New Law Governing Data Brokers
Lawfare Archive: TikTok, WeChat and Trump
Lawfare Archive: Jim Sciutto on ‘The Shadow War’
Trump Trials and Tribulations: N.Y. Trial Dispatch (Apr. 26, 2024)
Lawfare Daily: Presidential Immunity at the Supreme Court
Trump Trials and Tribulations: N.Y. Trial Dispatch (Apr. 25, 2024)
Rational Security: The “Don’t Call It a Comeback (Because I’m Technically Still on Leave)” Edition
Lawfare Daily: Trump Trials and Tribulations Weekly Round-up (Apr. 24, 2024)
Lawfare Daily: CYBERCOM Legal Conference: The Role of the Private Sector in Conflict
Trump Trials and Tribulations: N.Y. Trial Dispatch (Apr. 23, 2024)
Chatter: New Cold Wars with Journalist David Sanger
Lawfare Daily: Ambassador Robert Lighthizer on Trade Policy
Trump Trials and Tribulations: N.Y. Trial Dispatch (Apr. 22, 2024)
Lawfare Daily: The Case for a U.S. Cyber Force
An Announcement from Lawfare
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Rational Security
It’s Complicated
Deep State Radio
Stay Tuned with Preet
Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast