Previously lived in North America
I've been in North America for quite a few years, not quite 10, but close to that.
At that time, I was incredibly proud of my country.
Of course, I am still happy and proud to be Japanese!
Even when I was abroad, I was proud of being from Japan and being Japanese.
I always thought that one day, I would like to work in a job promoting this wonderful and wonderful Japan to the world.
(But I also wanted to try working on a US presidential campaign.)
When I lived in North America, "Made in Japan" was more highly regarded as a mark of the highest quality in the world than it is now.
If you are looking for high quality, not only in cars but also in electrical appliances, Japanese cuisine, delicate handicrafts, etc., "Made in Japan" is THE BEST of best!!! Or rather, "Made in Japan" is MUST if you look for absolutely the best.
So, when it comes to clothes, I feel safe knowing that they are "Made in Japan," especially when it comes to the sewing.
But!
Recently, the sewing of Made in China products has also become beautiful.
I guess many Japanese companies are expecting Japanese quality from their Chinese factories, and have them learn through repeated inspections, right?
Or is it because everyone is producing, producing, day in and day out, and has leveled up to become a veteran?
Anyway, even though it's made in China, the stitching is beautiful!
The general public's preconceived notion that "made in China = inferior products" seems to be a thing of the past (when it comes to apparel, at least!).
However, there are still factories with excellent sewing techniques and those that do not, so it is true that it is difficult to make a general statement.
And this is the same for Japanese products.
However, in the case of domestically produced products, the difference between the lowest and highest quality sewing finishes is not that wide, so unless something extraordinary happens, you will almost never hear, "No, no, this is absolutely no good!"
Is it because technology has improved? Or is it because labor costs have risen? Labor costs for Chinese production have become much higher.
It's expensive!
As if to prove this, fast fashion clothing was once produced almost exclusively in China, but now it is produced in many different Asian countries, including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, and Indonesia.
Take a look at the quality tags on your own clothes
You might see the names of Asian countries you've never heard of before.
In the apparel industry , the label "Made in Japan" or "Made in Japan" simply refers to the place where the sewing was done, and does not indicate where the thread, fabric, or materials used (buttons, zippers, hooks, etc.) are from or made in.
There is no way for buyers to check which country the thread or fabric used in a garment was made in.
There are two things I wanted to say in today's blog!
①
When it comes to apparel, just because it's made in China doesn't mean it's all bad.
In fact, the quality of the sewing is so good that it is on a completely different level than apparel produced in other Asian countries.
In fact, it's better than the ones that come out of Japan's poorly-manufactured factories.
②
The label "Made in Japan" simply refers to the place where the product is finally finished.
Not everything, from materials to sewing, is made in Japan.
That's it.
Silk is the best! Love Silk
Silk maniac
R