I wasn't sure about this book at first. The author's professional background is not in fashion or textiles, or even research, which is not the end of the world, as it's hard to find fashion writing which is engaging at an intellectual level. However, the tone in the book is light; a little bit "Watch what happens now", almost like you find on a wild animal taming program or a bloopers video show. However, he completely won me over by writing a balanced and accessible book about people and factories that produce our clothes.
He tracks his four favorite items of clothing all the way to the factories that made them, and the people working in those factories. He assumes nothing and remains open-minded and fair. He describes garment production in Bangladesh, Cambodia and China, and gives reasons for supporting it, and proceeding cautiously as we do so. Without giving it all away, I will say this: as with most things, it's complicated. It's not as simple as boycotting a brand, although he concludes, as I have, that digging for information about companies is worth it, and that selective and thoughtful purchasing, with communication to companies, is also worth it.
Read Where Am I Wearing?: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People that Make Our Clothes and let me know what you think.
Also check out whereamiwearing.com (But the book is better, so read that).
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