When Joe Bennett bought a five-pack of 'Made in China' underpants in his local New Zealand hypermarket for $8.59, he wondered who on earth could be making any money, let alone profit, from the exchange. How many processes and middlemen are involved? Where and how are the pants made? And who decides on the absorbent qualities of the gusset?
WHERE UNDERPANTS COME FROMtells you all you need to know -- in fact, probably more -- about this mystery of global commerce. Leaving his supermarket trolley behind Joe embarks on an odyssey to the new factory of the world, China, to trace his pants back to their source. Along the way he discovers the extraordinarily balanced and intricate web of contacts and exchanges that makes global trade possible -- and rapidly elevating China to the status of world economic superpower. He also grapples with chopsticks, challenges his own prejudices and marvels at the contrasts in one of the world's oldest, but fastest changing, societies. Funny, wise and insightful, it is another wonderful journey from the author of A Land of Two Halvesand Mustn't Grumble.
- ISBN10 1847370012
- ISBN13 9781847370013
- Publish Date 6 May 2008
- Publish Status Out of Stock
- Out of Print 21 January 2009
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Simon & Schuster Ltd
- Format Paperback (UK Trade)
- Pages 272
- Language English