Viator Viator Travel Blog

I never needed much of an excuse to travel. Most people, if they haven’t cut them out because they itch, consult the tag on their clothing for washing instructions. I consulted mine for a travel itinerary. My “Jingle These” Christmas boxers were made in Bangladesh. My all-American blue jeans were made in Cambodia. My flip-flops were made in China, and my favorite T-shirt was made in Honduras.

Clothes being woven by hand in Bangladesh

My goal was to go to these countries, track down the factory that produced my item of clothing, and meet the workers. To me this sounded like fun, an exercise in experimental travel that would take me around the world.

It was all about the travel.

My journey becomes a quest

Somewhere between going undercover as an underwear buyer in Bangladesh, taking garment workers bowling in Cambodia, and being treated to simple, home-cooked meals by garment workers who had so little in China, the trip became a quest. The quest’s goal wasn’t sightseeing, exploration, or recreation. It was people.

Kelsey in Bangladesh

In today’s ever-globalizing world there is a vast divide between producer and consumer. I spent months doing my darndest to bridge this divide. From producer to consumer there is a long chain of players in the garment industry, made up of workers, labor sharks, factories, subcontractors, unions, governments, buying houses, middle men, middle men for the middle men, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), importers, exporters, brands, department stores, and you and me.

Each takes a cut. Some play by the rules; some don’t. Exploitation can occur on any level, except one—the workers aren’t in a position to exploit anyone.

Along the way, I learned the garment industry is much more labor intensive than I ever thought. That the people who make our clothes sacrifice much to have their jobs, jobs that mean an awful lot – sometimes everything – to them and their families. Still, they could be treated better.

I think, therefore I care

Jeans being stitched in Cambodia

For the most part, we, as consumers, don’t think much about the folks who make our clothes. But there’s one simple question and one simple act that can change all of that. Twist the neck of your shirt around, find the tag, and ask yourself “Where Am I Wearing?”

The tag might not tell us the whole story, about the girl in Cambodia who supports her family of eight with her wages, or the Bangladeshi woman who works hard so her children can get the education that she never had, or the Chinese couple who work 100-hour weeks and haven’t seen their son in three years. There’s so much the tag doesn’t say.

But it’s a start.

Where am I wearing? This isn’t so much a question related to geography and clothes, but about the people who make our clothes and the texture of their lives. It helps us reflect on the way we live and the way they live; because when it comes to clothing, others make it, and we have it made. And there’s a big, big difference.

-Kelsey Timmerman

Editor’s Note: Kelsey Timmerman is the author of “Where Am I Wearing: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes.” He blogs at whereamiwearing.com. Help Kelsey out  by purchasing a copy of his book here.