Where Do Your Shoes Come from?

Where Do Your Shoes Come From?

I looked at the different types and brands of shoes I had and researched where they were made. Out of my sandals, two pairs were made in China and one pair was made in the United States. Out of my sneakers, three pairs were Nike and I found they were made in a few different countries, including China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. My other pair were created in Vietnam. Out of all of my boots, two pairs were made in China and one pair was made in the US. All three of my high heels and wedges were made in China. After I collected this information, I did some more research on the brands of these shoes.

The majority of my shoes were made in China, and only a couple were made in the US. Most of these shoes were bought at malls near where I live. Due to our consumerism society, malls and shopping is a big thing in the United States, compared to other developing countries. Some of the most expensive of these shoes were about $300, and the cheapest were about $30. The “brand name” shoes were more expensive and require a higher-middle class social status to afford. After researching the working conditions in China and the US, I realized they varied dramatically.

China is the world’s largest clothing exporter and has a lot of hard workers to make this possible. Many things, including a pair of Ugg boots are created in China. The Ugg brand started out in Australia and are now popular in areas all across the world, a prime example of globalization. In China, the working conditions are very poor and harsh. There are very low wage rates and many work more than 70 hours a week. Though the minimum wages differ across the different provinces in China, most people working in these factories live off of less than $2 per day. The average monthly salary is barely enough to cover basic needs. The working conditions also carry extreme health risks. Last year alone, about 70,000 workers were killed in their workplace due to accidents. Sweatshops exist with...