"Coach" Factory in Shenzhen

Our next factory is located in the outskirts of Shenzhen which transformed from a fishing village into a dynamic manufacturing center within 30 years. It was established as the first Special Economic Zone in 1979 to test out market capitalism and it has progressed by leaps and bounds. Skyscrapers dominate the skyline whether commercial or residential.

It is home to 12 million people. Hong Kong lies south of Shenzhen, separated by a river.

Thousands of factories and the complexity of the roads made it difficult for the driver to locate the factory at first but we finally found it after asking around for directions. We visited a factory that made handbags, specifically for the “Coach” label.

It was a Saturday and the factory closes at 12 noon so we did not have much time as we had arrived late. A slogan just inside the entrance on a building facing the factory exhorts the workers to keep improving.

This particular factory employs three thousand people.We saw different types and colors of leather as we entered the factory

and there was a gallery displaying the different designs as well as an award flanked by two designer bags.

We were given a tour of the factory that showed us the many processes involved in the making of a handbag.

Many of the processes are manual, such as fitting the pieces of leather together, attaching the handles, etc. No wonder the bags are so expensive as there is a lot of labor involved.

Do you know that when the leather comes to the factory it is first put into a machine that will remove the tension or tautness from it? Then it is also skived or flattened so that it is easier to work with, especially when it has been cut into various shapes and sizes.

We were told that about 20 designs are produced annually, sometimes more. It is also company policy that their workers are not allowed to use the “Coach” bags. Aside from the cost, I guess it must be to keep the brand exclusive.

On the dot of 12, a siren sounded and minutes later, we saw workers streaming out of the factory. The road was inundated with them and many stopped to purchase vegetables, meat and cooked food from the vendors that lined the road.

The shopping was also good as we could get cheap apparel from the wholesale vendors. One multistory building ( 8 floors ) sold only women’s apparel! Another building sold men’s wear. Aside from these wholesale markets, there are also the small individual shops as well as the usual stores in shopping malls.

On the whole, I found this short trip to be educational and enjoyable. I only wish it could have been extended by another two days.

Garment Factory in Guangzhou, China

Last weekend was a long one and many people left for short holidays. I joined a group of ladies on a study cum shopping tour organized by SWEPA (Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association) in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Southern China.

The flight was a short and pleasant one and soon we were one our way from Shenzhen airport to Guangzhou.

The expressways were just like those in other modern countries with toll stations along the way.

Guangzhou is the capital of Kwantung Province and is a leading commercial and manufacturing center in China. What struck me was the cleanliness and the green foliage as we moved along the highways many of which are elevated and there are three levels so we saw vehicles below and above us.

The use of motorcycles was banned in 2007 to reduce the polluted emissions , to improve the traffic flow and to prevent snatch thefts. These three problems are rampant in my country and I wish the government has the political will to ban the use of motorcycles in urban centers. This will wipe out the spate of snatch thefts and eliminate the Mat Rempits who are menaces on two wheels that have no respect for the law or other road users.

We visited a garment factory that produces a whole range of clothing from casual wear, jeans, lingerie, etc. and their clients include Marks & Spencer, Ann Taylor, Calvin Klein, Debenhams, Victoria’s Secrets, Levi’s, etc. We were given a tour of how Victoria’s Secret lingerie was produced from the design stage right up to the finished product.

Each process is completed by a different sewer so a garment will be produced by ten or more people, depending on the complexity of the design.

There are programs that look after the welfare of the workers and incentives which boost their productivity. A fair promotion policy is practiced. 70% of the workers are women. They are trained to cut and sew, using various types of machines which require different sets of skills.

It was definitely an eye-opener for me.

The shopping was also good. There were streets that sold one type of product, e.g. wedding dresses and evening gowns, shoes and the accessories to match. The designs were fabulous and the accessories were mind boggling. It was really a visual feast. If a goldie like me can swoon over them, what more a sweet young person?