Essay on commodity chain

First Paragraph: describe the item you are analyzing in depth. There are
three components involved with a thorough description:
1.Look at the item carefully and include all its constituent parts: how many
types of fabric or other material is involved in it? Are there buttons or laces or
other additional items attached to it?
.!hy did you choose it? "ake sure that you e#plain clearly what this item
says about you$ personally$ if anything. %s this something you identify with
deeply? &ow often do you use it?
'.!hen and where was it purchased?
Paragraphs 2 and 3: e#plore two speci(c processes that you can surmise
were involved with the production of your item )i.e. weaving the fabric$ and
stitching the garment*. +escribe one process in paragraph $ and the other
process in paragraph '. ,nderstanding that it is impossible to (nd out e#actly
what these relationships look like$ instead seek out information from the
%nternet$ from your local library$ or brainstorm with friends about commodity
-ows in your country. !hen you describe these processes$ be as detailed as
you can$ and if you cannot (nd the speci(c information$ raise .uestions
surrounding these issues with as much speci(city as possible$ and consider
why such information is not freely available. /e sure to include all the following
information:
!hich country or region of the world did this process likely take place?
!ho were the range of people who were likely to have been involved? %n other
words$ how might people of di0erent class positions be involved in the
production of this item?
!hat di0erent roles might men or women have played in the production of
your item?
Fourth Paragraph: assess how this analysis has changed your perspective on
the item you chose to analyze. +oes it look di0erent to you than it did when
you selected it? &as the meaning it held for you changed in any way? !hat
.uestions are you left with that are still unanswered for you$ but that you are
still interested in knowing the answer to? &ow might you approach ac.uiring a
similar item di0erently or similarly in the future$ based on what you have dug
up?
The commodity chain analysis of the leather shoes
% use brown leather shoes to go outside and to go to work. The di0erent parts
are coming from di0erent countries and are assembled in 1ortugal. The
di0erent parts are the glue$ the lace$ the sole$ the leather parts$ the inside
parts )the stu0$ a light sole*.
% chose it in a shopping center in a 1ortuguese shop from a national brand that
is selling all over 2urope. % chose it because it is casual$ comfortable and
resistant. The leather stu0 was important in my decision. %t lasts more time.
3everal years. The problem with other kinds of shoes$ in plastic$ they do not
resist much time. 4ften the sole get wasted or broken. % do not identify with it
very much. Those are good$ practical and resistant shoes. This is what % value.
4f course$ they are also nicely designed. /ut that is not the most important.
% use it daily or almost. 2ach time % go teaching or walk in town.
% bought it last year and it can last one more year. % have to say that % have
three pairs of shoes for that use$ if % get wet two days in a row % have a way out.
The lace is coming from Turkey or "orroco. The glue is coming from 3pain. The
sole is made in 1ortugal from a primary product that is imported from the
5etherlands and that is used for making the sole. The interior parts are coming
from 1ortugal and other countries$ assembled in 5orth Africa with the
The design is made in 1ortugal$ most of the time. The company use sometimes
for much more e#pensive shoes %talian designers or when they want to launch
new lines of products. The adaptation of the production process is made in
1ortugal$ adapting the model to the machines and the workers. The moulds are
made in 1ortugal too. The production is in 1ortugal and assemble the pieces
from di0erent parts of the world. The ad6ustments and adaptation of the parts
are made in 1ortugal when needed. The weaving and stitching for the (nal
product and main pieces is made in 1ortugal.
% do not know all the aspects of the small parts that are produced abroad$ but
they are part of a division of labor and the results of the management decision
to keep costs down$ to stay competitive and to reach a certain amount of
.uality.
The design of the shoes is an important part of the production and it cost more
than the production of the parts outside 2urope. The management is from
economic elites$ as well as the capitalists. The technical employees are from
1ortugal$ the assemblers are mostly young women. 3ome aged women are
working in the assembling process too$ but for most particular processes that
re.uire more e#perience.
%n outside countries$ the people working are also mainly women$ e#cept for the
glue production and the sole. "anagers from abroad are mostly men. %n
1ortugal$ about '7 percent of managers are women. "aybe this is more typical
of this sector of activity.
+oes it look di0erent to you than it did when you selected it?
8es. % have noticed the gender di0erence and the social classes that are
di0erent at the top and bottom of the production process.
&as the meaning it held for you changed in any way? !hat .uestions are you
left with that are still unanswered for you$ but that you are still interested in
knowing the answer to? &ow might you approach ac.uiring a similar item
di0erently or similarly in the future$ based on what you have dug up?
% will be more conscious$ especially in order to know if in third countries there is
child labor or abuse of workers rights.
m6ac.uinet