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.