Part of the Series
Ladydrawers
New Ladydrawer Melissa Mendes draws the latest installment of our yearlong look at international gender and labor issues (check out “Fast Fashion,” “Let’s Go Shopping” and “The Business of Thrift” with Julia Gfrörer), which looks at the wacky world of Foreign-Trade Zones and the labor problems they foster. Despite their rampant growth in recent years, few know they exist. However, they contribute greatly to the annual gross domestic product – and the global garment trade.
![2013 1112ld](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/legacy/images/images_2013_11/2013_1112ld_.jpg)
Join us in defending the truth before it’s too late
The future of journalism is uncertain, and the consequences of losing it are too grave to ignore. To ensure Truthout remains fearless, tough, and 100 percent independent, we need to raise $28,000 in the next 3 days. Every dollar raised goes directly toward the costs of producing news you can trust.
Please give what you can — because by supporting us with a tax-deductible donation, you’re not just preserving a source of news, you’re helping to safeguard what’s left of our democracy.