Essay about Travels of a T-Shirt Review

In the book, “Where am I wearing” written by Kelsey Timmerman goes on a adventure to find out where and who made the clothes that he wears everyday. Kelsey Timmerman believes that the people impacted by globalization encounter more problems and struggles than someone in a non globalized country. Did you know that the average amount someone is china makes per hour is one dollar and thirty six cents compared to the U.S where on average they make twenty three dollars and thirty two cents per hour. Even though the men and women in china are working roughly 3.6 hours more than people in the U.S.

The book Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli is about the journey of a plain cotton shirt internationally through the economy. This book consists of a plain, cheap t-shirt bought at Wal-Mart, is split into four important parts. The first part is about the source of the t-shirt: cotton. The second part is about the creation process the t-shirt goes through while being created in China. The third part is consists of explaining what happens after the t-shirt goes to the United States and faces the American protectionist policies. Lastly, the fourth essential part of this t-shirt is what happens to the shirt when it is finished in America (or other developed nations).

When I first heard the title Where am I Wearing, I wasn’t too excited about reading it. I thought it would be another boring school book that I was required to study. However, after reading a few chapters, I became intrigued and started to enjoy reading it. Kelsey Timmerman isn’t just another activist who is trying to convince you to stop buying clothes from big companies who use sweat shops and chid laborers. He is giving you a perspective into the lives of those who work in these factories and how they function in their everyday lives. It was interesting to hear the different encounters that he had with these people. Timmerman presents us with the ongoing concern of are sweatshops and globalization good for the people who live in these countries or do they do more harm then good?

• The enormous surplus of labor in China imperils workers worldwide as international competition puts incessant downward pressure on wages and working conditions, leading the apparel and textile industries to favor the cheapest and most Draconian producers.

80 billion clothing items are produced every year. About two million tons of clothes is thrown away every year. The clothes often cannot be resold due to lack of quality. Only about 10% of clothes are resold. ¾ of the clothing’s manifested from fast fashion labels will end up in a land fill after a year after it is put out for consumers to buy.

If the government enacted a special tax on imported clothing making the selling price equal to the selling price of clothing made in the United States, shoppers would see imported items with much higher prices in discount stores. If the prices of clothing made in sweatshops and in the United States were comparative, shoppers would consider the trade-offs and opt to buy clothing made in the United States for higher quality, loyalty to United States workers, and the health of our economy (Mankiw, 2011, p. 4). Wal-Mart and “big-box” stores that sell so many imported clothing items would see a decrease in sales. Shoppers would choose to buy clothing at stores that sell clothing made in the United States. These stores would see an increase in sales.

The book is broken down into four parts: “King Cotton”, “Made in China”, “Trouble at the Border” and “My T-shirt Finally Encounters a Free Market”. Each part explains a different step of the t-shirt process.

Although globalization allows for most products to be produced at a more efficient rate, it also has the capability to mar the economies of municipalities in first world countries. In Pietra Rivoli’s book The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy, she discusses the different viewpoints of opposing sides of an on-going battle to reduce the amount of tariffs and quotas put on the textile industries of foreign countries. For decades the textile industry in America has been on a noticeable decline, with outsourcing to third-world countries to blame. Although both faction’s viewpoints on the benefits of such outsourcing, both realize that there is only one way to gain the results they seek; which is to petition to the congressmen, including high ranking officials such as the president, in Washington D.C.

Often, when we think of a t-shirt, not much consideration goes past throwing it on and walking out the door. We discover in The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy, author Pietra Rivoli conveys the story of a t-shirt she purchased in Florida for just $5.99. Beginning with core element of the t-shirt, she describes the cotton boom in the United States and why we have reigned supreme as the leading cotton producer. She even meets with a Texan farmer who warms your heart from the very beginning of the chapter. Next, the cotton goes on to textile mills and factories, and Rivoli explains the history of the textile industry. With this lesson, she demonstrates how the textile industry boom was a

I think what I found to be most interesting about the book was how the United States has dominated cotton production for so long. I am always interested in how rich people make money. It seems as if many people are wealthy because of cotton production. I just find how resourceful cotton growers have been historically to be very fascinating. I find it very interesting how cotton farmers have been able to make a profit at every turn and how they have turned even what at one time waste and byproduct into profit. Perhaps, their greatest achievement was to learn to even harvest the wind that at one point would destroy cotton farms into a source of profit.

and personal experiences. In The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy Rivoli, an

Lululemon’s ability to source profitably merchandise may be affected; if new trade restrictions are imposed by The United States and other countries where products are produced or sold. These may include additional quotas, duties, tariffs, or other restrictions or regulation. Moreover, China increased in labor cost and other factors associated with production could increase the cost of product. (“Lululemon Athletica Annual Report, 2012”).

The producers in the new T-shirt value chain do not operate in a free market system. Government protectionist measures such as subsidies, quotas, and tariffs have limited economic success to a fortunate few. According to the author Pietra Rivoli, “the winners at various stages of my T-shirt’s life are adept not so much at competing in markets but at avoiding them.” These winners include the U.S. cotton farmer and the China apparel industry. Their market dominance and profitability have benefitted significantly from the political prowess of their government to limit competition.

The design of my t-shirt is based on James Hampton's garage and the light bulbs are based on the ones that were used to illuminate the master piece. They give the heavenly piece of art a glow. Equally important, each bulb has a name of an item that belongs to the seventh most important thing list. Such as lightbulbs, coffee cans, mirrors, foils, pieces of wood, glass bottles, and cardboard. Most important, that garage is the original home of the The Throne of the Third Heaven. It was created there. Arthur changed and helped create the beautiful creation. As a matter if fact, it was his redemption. A chance to feel free from his guilt. During his probation, he collected every day junk for Mr. Hampton. In the book, Mr. Hampton said that it was

According to the data, the total volume of textiles exported from China has started a continuous rapid growth since 2001 (the year of China’s accession to the WTO) as shown in the first graph above, which roughly