Evaluates the costs of low-priced clothing while tracing the author's own transformation to a conscientious shopper, a journey during which she visited a garment factory, learned to resole shoes, and shopped for local, sustainable clothing.

Seven pairs of $7 shoes -- "I have enough clothing to open a store" -- How America lost its shirts -- High and low fashion make friends -- Fast fashion -- The afterlife of cheap clothes -- Sewing is a good job, a great job -- China and the end of cheap fashion -- Make, alter, and mend -- The future of fashion.