Reference no: EM132164102

Exercise - Garments: The Where and Why of What You Wear

In this exercise you will compose an essay and a map based on the clothes that you wear. It is also required to include a table with the data you will collect from your wardrobe, which should be included in the first page of your work, and two summary tables. "This exercise is about tracing the "origins" of the clothes and shoes you are wearing right now and about asking "Why?" (Domosh et al. 2013: 345).

TABLES: The first step in composing this exercise is to select ten items of your wardrobe, including but not limited to: shirts/blouses, pants, underwear, socks, coats, skirts, shoes, etc (casual clothes preferably). Then you will create a table (Table # 1) in which you will include four columns. In the first column you will include the name of the item (garment/shoe). In the second column you will include the names of the countries where these items were made (look for the "Made in..." section of the labels). In the third column you will include the name of the brand/company that made these items. Finally, in the fourth column you will include the name of the location where these companies have their headquarters. You can find this last piece of information by searching the web using the following key words: "__________ (name of the company) headquarters." Please note that in the sample table provided I have included the names of the USA states where these companies are located; you are not required to do so.

It is also required to include below your Table # 1 two summary tables of your findings by grouping by continents (as broadly defined in this Instructions) the countries of origin of your garments, and the location of the companies' headquarters. These must be included in two separate tables: Table # 2: Origin of Garments; and, Table # 3: Company Headquarters. We will use the following names to group this information (by continents): North America (which will include USA and Canada only), Latin America (which includes all countries south of USA -including the Caribbean as well), Europe (including Russia), Africa, and Asia (which will also include Tukey, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific island nations).

Your (3) tables with the information of your garments should be included in the first section of your work, followed by the two additional tables. See sample table provided at the end of this document and in the corresponding powerpoint presentation file. Please include in the top portion of the first page of your work, before you include your table, a title for this assignment, your full name, and the date.

MAP: You will plot this information in the attached blank world map. See map sample included in the corresponding PPT and at the end of this document as well. Your map should be included below your table.

Every map must include the following information:

a) A title (i.e., "Origin of my Garments and Companies Headquarters"). This should be included in the top portion of your map.

b) An arrow and an "N" (north) sign on top [of the arrow] pointing to the geographic north.

Place it on the upper right hand-side of the map.

c) Labels for each of the continents in which your garments where made and where the companies that made them have located their headquarters. These should be located in the middle section of the continents included.

d) Two different symbols representing (a) the regions of origin of your garments, and, (b) the location of the companies' headquarters. You can use a graduated circle, triangle, square, etc. to represent each of these items but not the same since each one represents a different category (origin and company headquarters). The width of these symbols should be adjusted to represent the number of items that were manufactured in each continent and, also, the number of companies headquarters located in each region. For example, if six items of the garments you selected were manufactured in Asia, two in Africa, and two in Latin America, then the symbol that you use to represent Asia should be three times larger than the symbol use to represent the contribution of the other two continents.

e) A legend indicating the values of the symbols that you used to represent the origin of your garments and the location of the companies headquarters.

To make your map, if you are not proficient in Microsoft Power Point (PPT), you can print the blank map that is included in the next pages (and the PPT file as well), and write all the necessary information neatly in your own handwriting. If this is the case, you will have to scan or take a picture of your map, and paste to your word document (this msut be included between your table and your essay portion). If you produce a map in PPT, you will also have to copy it and paste it to your word document. To copy your map from PPT to your word document, press Control [Ctrl] and Print Screen [PrntScr] together on the PPT slide; then go to the end of your word document, and click paste. You should crop this page to show your map only.

THE ESSAY - DATA ANALYSIS - (45%) AND BIBLIOGRAPY (5%): "This exercise is about tracing the "origins" of the clothes and shoes you wear and about asking "Why?" The cost of labor...is important, but it certainly isn't the only factor in determining where garments and shoes are made" (Domosh et al. 2013: 345).

Your essay must first describe the historical and contemporary patterns of trade in primary and secondary production related to the garments industry (see textbook and PPT files for details), and their spatial distribution, in your own words. Then you will discuss the most important characteristics of the garments industry including its evolution and current state. A summary of these facts can be found in this exercise's powerpoint presentation as well.

As it is mention in the textbook by Domosh et al.: "... the textile and garments industries have historically been very footloose, able to move production facilities to locations that suit manufacturers, often because of the low cost of labor. In today's global world, that tendency is even more pronounced, with manufacturers of clothing and other garment-related materials outsourcing many aspects of production and often subcontracting with other companies to complete different tasks in different parts of the world" (Domosh et al. 2013: 345).

Any geographically-based study must answer three broad questions: Where? Why? (and How?), and, So what? (or, in other words, why is this important?) For example, where are the garments you selected to compose this exercise where made and where are the headquarters of these companies located? Why are these items made in these countries? What are the similarities of the countries were these garments are produced and those where the company headquarters are located? What are the differences?

In answering to the "So what?" question (why is this important?) you must use the information you have included in the first two sections (Where? and Why?). This is an overview of the principles characteristics of today's garment industry and must include a conclusion's paragraph of your analysis. While answering these questions, you must also consider each of the locational factors mentioned in the course textbook and the corresponding PPT (i.e., labor, markets, state policies, consumer trends), and try to generalize the why of what you wear. Finally, you must make a lengthy reflection about your role as a consumer of this industry. Here you must make a reflection on the trends of this industry and how your preferences may have an impact its production and trade.

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar