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A Brief History of Buttons: The Tiny Fastener That Changed Fashion

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A Brief History of Buttons: The Tiny Fastener That Changed Fashion

By: Claire Houghton
Narrated by: Virtual Voice
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This title uses virtual voice narration

Virtual voice is computer-generated narration for audiobooks.

This captivating microhistory of fashion reveals how a tiny, everyday fastener engineered global trade and social change. Perfect for an enriching morning commute or unwinding with a curious look at human ingenuity, this listen transforms the mundane into the extraordinary.

Long before modern fast fashion, early humans battled the elements with crude ties until an ingenious little object unlocked entirely new fitted silhouettes. Explore the hidden stories woven into your daily routine, as tailoring breakthroughs ignite industrial boomtowns and subtly enforce deep-seated cultural rules.

What you'll discover inside:

• The prehistoric evolution of clothing and the brilliant leap from crude ties to fitted garments.

• How luxurious closures signaled extreme wealth, power, and class across ancient continents.

• The bustling industrial boomtowns built entirely to feed the world's endless appetite for fasteners.

• The surprising societal rules and psychological reasons behind gendered shirt designs.

• How small discs became powerful tools for military uniformity, political campaigns, and youth rebellion.

• The fierce modern battle against zippers, snaps, and high-tech closures in the age of sustainable design.

You will never look at your wardrobe the same way again after experiencing this rich tapestry of technology, class, and desire. Press play to turn your next walk or drive into an enlightening historical adventure through the clothes we wear every single day.

©2026 Hidden Voices (P)2026 Hidden Voices
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