“Value of Button” unveils the remarkable story of how a humble fastening device shaped human civilization across millennia, influencing everything from social hierarchies to global commerce.
This comprehensive exploration traces the button's evolution from its origins in ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley and Bronze Age China to its pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution and modern fashion. Through meticulous research drawing from archaeological findings, textile archives, and anthropological studies, the book reveals how buttons transcended their basic function to become powerful symbols of status and catalysts for social change.
The narrative unfolds across three major themes: technological development, cultural significance, and economic impact. Readers discover fascinating insights about how buttons served as currency in some societies and social markers in others, before mass production democratized their use and transformed clothing design.
The book's multidisciplinary approach weaves together material culture, economic history, and fashion archaeology, presenting complex concepts in accessible language while maintaining scholarly rigor. What makes this work particularly valuable is its ability to demonstrate how seemingly minor innovations can drive profound societal changes.
By examining button usage from 3000 BCE to the present day, with special attention to transformative periods, the book illuminates the intricate relationships between technological advancement, social equality, and human expression. The analysis is enriched by historical anecdotes and case studies, making it relevant for academics, design professionals, and anyone interested in understanding how everyday objects shape our world.
