Where am I Wearing?: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes

Central to Timmerman’s portrayal of the global garment industry is the recognition that globalization involves a complex interplay of benefits and drawbacks, particularly for developing countries. On the one hand, global trade opens doors for economic growth and provides employment opportunities, propelling “developing” nations toward the prosperity that their “developed” counterparts enjoy. On the other hand, the process widens the gap between rich and poor and leads to worker exploitation and fractured communities.

The book outlines how a developing country’s transition into a developed one typically follows a specific trajectory. Increasing manufacturing output is driven by international trade, and as a country’s economy grows, there is a shift from agrarian-based to industrial-based production. Economists generally accept this process as involving short-term pain for long-term gain. As companies seek to minimize costs and maximize profits, workers often face low wages, long hours, unsafe working conditions, and limited labor rights. Moreover, globalization can exacerbate income inequality as wealth and opportunities concentrate in urban centers while rural areas are left behind. However, in the long term, these factors elevate the standard of living for citizens of developing countries, leading to infrastructure development, better health care and education systems, and labor reforms that improve workers’ conditions.