NOT Made in China

[Oola]

I was in the chemist waiting to pick up a prescription for Cynthia's treatment, and was browsing the stand with all the sewing kits, bits of haberdashery and wotnot. As I idly flicked through, I noticed that everything that I picked up was Made In China (but bearing in mind this was a Tesco Pharmacy in TescoTown). So everything I picked up went back on the shelf.

It's so hard to buy anything that's not made in China these days. I've thought of doing a few e-commerce ventures, but I have to go to China to source th products I've thought about selling, and that's not something I'm prepared to do. The only thing we've found is a British jewellery wholesaler, where everything is made in Devon (not sure if the silver has been mined there though). But because it's British it tends to be that much more expensive, and at the moment we can't afford the minimum order quanitity (MOQ).

But anything consumerable, particularly if it's plastic, seems to hail from China and I'm finding it really hard to find British items, especially with haberdashery or cooking equipment. Anyone know any good, solid British makes that I should look out for?

[Crocus]

Hi Oola, it seems just about everything these days are from China! A very nice clothes shop where I bought a few lovely things, suddenly also have al their stuff made in China! It wasn't the case in the past. It seems as if China is taking over the world. Here in our little village we have chinese shops and the local people who are trying to make a living are not very happy with these Chinese people, taking over. Somehow they just wriggle in all over!:eek::mad:

[Oola]

Oh I have no problem with Chinese people making a living over here, if they contribute tax etc. and are part of the community. It's just the amount of outsourcing that's going on in China now, it just seems unstoppable. I want to invest so much in my own country, but am struggling to find completely British-made items.

[jazzactivist]

I think that you will find it really hard to source items now that aren't from China, Oola - especially to sell on. I understand your dilemma, as I am not keen to buy cheap items from there either, but as the output is so huge it is hard to find anything that isn't. Andy and I thought that we had found a local furniture maker who had a workshop on site and had unfinished wooden pieces on display. However, when we enquired about a table and chairs set the owner wasn't in and we got one of the apprentices who blithely told us that all the furniture was bought from China and they just add the finish and handles! Needless to say, we didn't buy it and bought a 2nd hand set instead. There is no silver mining in the UK anymore, if there was it would be ludicrously expensive. The silver that can be classed as Sterling silver usually comes from Russia or Latin America. Sadly, the working conditions in both of these countries aren't good, although there is a small amount of Fair Trade silver trading starting up.

[Pippa]

I think the only way to find non-chinese goods is to find local artisan or crafts people who make the articles from scratch. I love making hand sewn Christmas decorations which take quite a long time, but you can buy similar in Tesco or equivalent for £1.50 each, it takes me hours to fiddle around so selling them would be out of the question. If you look at Not on the High Street or Tuggle, both websites offer hand made items, but China has the upper hand on price and that is what drives most people.

[Crocus]

To be quite honest, things that I bought before the "Made in China" days were of a much higher quality than nowadays, especially clothes. I'm not sure that the fact that China is taking over everything now, is a such a good thing, it will be at the cost of many. The working conditions come to mind.

[jazzactivist]

I think that you are right, Crocus, and that quality is being sacrificed for low prices, and those of us who are keen to avoid this aren't being allowed the choice. We are all supposed to be caring about the environment, but buying goods that only last once and then get thrown away is the opposite. I agree with you too, Pippa, and your Christmas decorations sound much nicer than any that could be bought in chainstores but my experience with the local 'artisan' was very annoying, as his whole workshop and sales space is kitted out to look like an old-fashioned wood workshop, complete with tools, sawdust and apprentices wearing aprons and tool belts!

[Crocus]

What also concerns me is the working conditions of some of these Chinese people in the factories.

[eleanor2]

i have mentioned a few times how important it is to me to buy made in Britain products.i do try.for my birthdays and christmas.i always give hubby hints on lovely products made in Britain.i already have my eye on my christmas present.round here all the pot banks are closing down.me and a frriend bought some local pottery at christmas.it was very expensive but it is something that will be collectable.that makes very special presents.so it is worth paying more if you can find it.i have a friend doing language studies in china.she is home at the moment.she has found it hard to buy anything whilst home she says it is so cheap to buy things in china.like you all mentioned it is quite ofen cheap and shoddy.breaks very quickly.my good old prestige kithcen utensils are still going strong .they were wedding presents 29 years ago.

[sunflower]

This is not a new thing. Do you remember when we were children, everything was made in China. Even Comedians used to make jokes about it. It was usually plastic toy goods.

[Oola]

When I was a child, the term 'Made In Taiwan' often meant cheap tat, now hardly anything seems to be made in Taiwan, it's all Chinese imports.

[Crocus]

Yes, but nowadays just about everything are made there! They make use of cheap labour, the conditions are not always up to standard, bad in some cases, and what about the quality of the articles produced? Products made under licence of the original company where they supply the materials, specifications on quality etc. are a different matter altogether. But it's the the cheap and nasty who also jump on the bandwagon which is the real problem here, I think.

[SummerSkye]

It's the same here too, even Australian clothing companies which are upmarket are now having their clothing made in China; the worst part is that the sizes have become much smaller and shorter than they used to be. Shoes are almost all made there and once again in small sizes. Lots of factories have moved offshore and this has lead to loss of jobs but still people buy the cheaper goods from China. I really search around to avoid this but I imagine the day will come when it will be impossible to buy anything else.

[Crocus]

I've seen an insert this morning on a News Channel that China is now sending their chefs off to different countries in order for them to go and learn how to make a particular country's favourite traditional food! Why I ask myself. Is it just another/one more way to conquer the world?