Empire of Fashion

[Pleater]

We spent several hours in the depths of the House - it has seven stories if you include the belvedere - though in this reality it was no longer safe to ascend the western staircases. The ground is bone dry so there is no danger of damp, and the room we sat in was quite pleasant even though it was only normally accessible from the lowest celler level.
'In case of need,' Hamish had told us 'you can climb up onto the table, then onto that book case and in the corner there are rungs which enable you to climb up - it comes out in the sunken garden. It is checked every month, to ensure it is safe and clean.'

We were shown a heap of hand written journals - though some were simply pieces of paper sewn together - which dated from the last one hundred years. They gave information about the arrival of representatives of an organisation called Fashion Furs. They now ran the entire planet, and had distorted its economy and population beyond recognition, and perhaps recovery.

The journals gave the details of how economies had been undermined, governments brought down, officials had been bribed or intimidated to bring about the sad state of affairs which had prevailed for decades.

'Some of us were selected to visit the Home world, and to work there. We were told that it would benefit our families back here - and in a way I supose it did. I was one of those who went to the Fashion University, and I designed garments and selected the fabrics for one of the most powerful families in the Fashion business, until the Boss decided to put a grey fabric without any warmth with a rather red brown.'
He looked at us for understanding.

'But that would not look right at all,' said the Chorister, flapping the sleeves of her gown in agitation at the image created. 'Did he not realise that?'

Hamish sighed and shook his head, 'It was a woman, so I supose I should not have argued with the lady, but I persisted, as I was sure that she would see sense. That same day I was sent back here. They were not vindictive, I can wear the blue uniform and I have a small pension, but of course all the benefits to my family were stopped.
I could still make some money by hunting for furs here - but now - over the last twenty years or so, the light furs are no longer wanted. Our young men are now forced to venture into the far north to hunt a dreadful creature not native to this reality - there have been many deaths and maimings.
A resistance movement has developed, to try to combat the Fashion Furs operations here, and your arrival here is part of the plans of that movement. We want to drive these people from our reality and restore some kind of normalityl'

'But what can we do that you can't do yourselves with this evidence?' enquired the pin stripe clad civil servant.

Hamish gave us a spaniel look.
'You can tell us how we could live. You can give us hope for a better future.'

There was a silence.

'Tell us what needs to be done.' I said.