The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli

How did/does the American cotton industry avoid risk?

Slavery, immigrants, sweatshops, low-paid workers

Where is most US cotton produced?

Lubbock, Texas

According to the author, why is the American cotton industry so successful?

Slavery, sharecropping, subsidies, geographic concentration

Tariff

a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports

Quota

a limited quantity of a particular product that under official controls can be produced, exported, or imported.

Subsidy

a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive.

Where is most US textile production located?

South Carolina

Why is female labor so prominent in the (history of) textile industry?

Women were mistreated; paid low; less trouble; domestic

Did most of the unwanted labor

What happens to a t-shirt after it is donated to a charity/ thrift shop? Note: There are multiple answers.

Salvation Army → Goodwill → Trans-Americas Trading Company

Clothing is sorted into categories

Clothing used in all way; not wasted

Sent to Africa → Mitumba

What is Mitumba? Who buys these items and how do they feel about it?

African term for clothing thrown away by Americans and Europeans

Poor people from African communities buy this clothing

Some think the clothing is hip and cool; Others find the clothing a disgrace to their culture because it is "the white lands leftovers"

Everyone usually gives in to wearing Mitumba and they pick out the snowflakes from the Manzese Market

How does having tariffs affect t-shirts?

Having tariffs makes t-shirts less affordable

What kind of shirts come into the U.S for free?

Women's Tee Shirts

What is the average tariff on imports?

The average tariff is 2%

When clothes aren't put in the store what are the three places it may go?

Bin #1 for rags, Bin #2 for stuffing, or Bin #3 set as vintage.

How many pounds of clothes does the us export per year?

1 billion

How can cotton be grown in the cotton industry?

Conventionally grown & organically

The United States has a free trade agreement with Columbia?

True

How is Organic grown cotton better than GM cotton?

GM cotton is harmful to environment

What can you do about the media in the Garment Industry?

Become more Transparent

How much cotton is produced in one year?

forty billion pounds

Who receives 2/3 of recycled shirts?

Africa

What happens to t-shirts that are not shipped to third world countries

They are turned into rags or stuffing

What are the proper conditions to work in a safe place?

Being organized with co-workers, and being in a healthy environment

Those who sell shirts what do they look for in a shirt?

Quantity/condition

Imports

goods and services purchased from other countries

Exports

goods and services sold to other countries

international trade

the exchange of goods and services among nations