Article from the American “Quartz” financial website on June 3, original title: “Made in China” is indeed not what it used to be
Frankly speaking, in the eyes of Westerners, the concept that “Made in China” means cheap but not good products is still deeply rooted. But the quality of clothing made in China is improving rapidly.
Today, China’s garment industry has invested in production technology and training for decades, and as China’s share of the global garment manufacturing industry increases, the garment-making skills of relevant employees are superior to others.
China still has sweatshops, but it also has a highly technical and highly specialized apparel industry, as well as supply chain managers for global mass apparel brands and even some high-end brands. They are considered to offer the best combination of price, speed, and quality.
“If I wanted to make regular men’s jeans, I would go to Pakistan,” said Edward Herzman, co-owner of the industry publication Procurement Journal. “If I wanted to make fashionable women’s clothing, I would go to China. Because their overall The technology is better and we can produce fashionable clothes easily.”
China’s clothing industry has become highly specialized, and many Chinese towns may only focus on the production of certain clothing products, such as the “Children’s Clothing Capital of the World” and “Cardigan City”. This dense industrial layout makes local factories extremely proficient in their business.
In fact, it has become common practice for luxury brands to produce in China, and Burberry, Armani and Prada are no exception. China also has a rapidly growing local luxury industry, with its own designers creating exquisite products domestically.
Of course, “Made in China” does not guarantee excellent products. After all, China is still a large developing country. But in general, Hertzman said, “purchasing managers have higher expectations for fashion and high-value-added products from China than from other countries.” According to Josh Green, founder of the global procurement industry platform Panju.com, the evidence is that although wages and operating costs are rising in China, many companies have not left. “Decision makers believe that it is unique and difficult to be copied elsewhere.” He said, “In short, China has developed such advanced capabilities that it is difficult for other countries to compete with it.”