Where am I Wearing?: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes

Timmerman is an American writer and journalist. His books, Where Am I Wearing? (2008), Where Am I Eating? (2013), and Where Am I Giving? (2018), focus on Western consumerism’s impact on producers’ lives worldwide. Interweaving travel literature, social commentary, and investigative journalism, Timmerman’s work aims to foster a deeper connection between consumers and the goods they buy.

In Where Am I Wearing? Timmerman plays a central role as author, narrator, and investigator as he travels across the globe to find the makers of his favorite clothes. Timmerman aims to build a rapport with readers as he shares personal anecdotes and reflections throughout the book. By characterizing himself as a “touron” (a portmanteau of tourist and moron) at his journey’s beginning, he places himself in the uninformed position of many American consumers. His quest becomes a journey of discovery for himself and the reader as he confronts his privileges as a white, educated American and his role as a consumer in an exploitative industry. He frequently compares his comfortable, carefree lifestyle with those of the garment makers he meets. He also berates himself for his former failure to consider the origins of his clothing. Throughout the