Intertextile Exhibitors Take Precautions Against Copiers
January 17, 2003
Shanghai - Intertextile Shanghai took place in a new venue, the recently opened Shanghai International Expo Center near Pudong. Here four halls accommodated apparel fabrics and home textiles from home and abroad. But while the venue was new, concerns of copying among exhibitors were not.
Many booths refused any photography by visitors, including journalists. ''We don't want to give anybody a chance to steal our designs,'' said Xia Jianlin, deputy general manager of Zhejiang Yulong Industry Co. Ltd.
''About 90 percent of visitors don't stop at our booth because they can't see our products so easily. Only serious people come in,'' said Rick Chen, sales manager of Taiwan-based J.W.L. Main Way Co. Ltd. The company's booth was designed in a low-key style with only a narrow entrance. All the products were put inside the shelves instead of hanging outside.
''In China, there's no copyright. I've spent so many years in pattern design. If we sell our products to someone doing business in the local market and next day, hundreds of people will have my pattern,'' Chen said. ''We spend a lot of effort, time and money in developing these patterns, so we don't want to have any local people come in to see or buy our products.''
Many overseas visitors were reluctant or even refused to be photographed by journalists. ''I don't want my competitors back in the United States to know where I buy my products,'' said one U.S. businessman.
Mary Lynn Landgraf, who represented the Office of Textiles and Apparel of U.S. Department of Commerce, said the organization was looking primarily at the hotel industry. ''I think the local market is realizing the good, value products and they're looking for high-end products,'' she said.
Anthony H Chao, general manager of Wall Industries (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, said the company received many buyers at the exhibition. ''We have taken orders with a total value of $1 million during the past three days and have met a great number of other potential clients that we will follow up after the show.''
But some overseas exhibitors worry that their qualities are too pricey for the local market. ''Local people like our products. They like the colors and patterns. The only thing they don't like is the price, which is more than double than the local products,'' said Vic Cassalegno, general manager of Casalegno Tendaggi Spa. The Italian company started attending the show in 1997 and has a local agent helping run its business in China.
Guido Mascanzoni from the Italian company Oltrona Spa also admitted that the price of their products was high for the Chinese market at the moment. ''We have found an agent in Shanghai as a result of our participation in this show, so we will need to re-assess how things are going in the next three to six months.''
Among the Chinese exhibitors, there emerged a trend toward the use of Chinese silk in home textiles.
''This year, we used a lot of silk in the home textile and accessories, and many people show great interest in this kind of products,'' said Yang Lishan, general manager of Hangzhou Zhongwang Fabric Products Co. Ltd. ''We have buyers from the United States, the Middle East and Southeast Asia who have already signed the contracts with us at the show, or decide to go to our plant for more research.'' F&FI
Many booths refused any photography by visitors, including journalists. ''We don't want to give anybody a chance to steal our designs,'' said Xia Jianlin, deputy general manager of Zhejiang Yulong Industry Co. Ltd.
''About 90 percent of visitors don't stop at our booth because they can't see our products so easily. Only serious people come in,'' said Rick Chen, sales manager of Taiwan-based J.W.L. Main Way Co. Ltd. The company's booth was designed in a low-key style with only a narrow entrance. All the products were put inside the shelves instead of hanging outside.
''In China, there's no copyright. I've spent so many years in pattern design. If we sell our products to someone doing business in the local market and next day, hundreds of people will have my pattern,'' Chen said. ''We spend a lot of effort, time and money in developing these patterns, so we don't want to have any local people come in to see or buy our products.''
Many overseas visitors were reluctant or even refused to be photographed by journalists. ''I don't want my competitors back in the United States to know where I buy my products,'' said one U.S. businessman.
Mary Lynn Landgraf, who represented the Office of Textiles and Apparel of U.S. Department of Commerce, said the organization was looking primarily at the hotel industry. ''I think the local market is realizing the good, value products and they're looking for high-end products,'' she said.
Anthony H Chao, general manager of Wall Industries (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, said the company received many buyers at the exhibition. ''We have taken orders with a total value of $1 million during the past three days and have met a great number of other potential clients that we will follow up after the show.''
But some overseas exhibitors worry that their qualities are too pricey for the local market. ''Local people like our products. They like the colors and patterns. The only thing they don't like is the price, which is more than double than the local products,'' said Vic Cassalegno, general manager of Casalegno Tendaggi Spa. The Italian company started attending the show in 1997 and has a local agent helping run its business in China.
Guido Mascanzoni from the Italian company Oltrona Spa also admitted that the price of their products was high for the Chinese market at the moment. ''We have found an agent in Shanghai as a result of our participation in this show, so we will need to re-assess how things are going in the next three to six months.''
Among the Chinese exhibitors, there emerged a trend toward the use of Chinese silk in home textiles.
''This year, we used a lot of silk in the home textile and accessories, and many people show great interest in this kind of products,'' said Yang Lishan, general manager of Hangzhou Zhongwang Fabric Products Co. Ltd. ''We have buyers from the United States, the Middle East and Southeast Asia who have already signed the contracts with us at the show, or decide to go to our plant for more research.'' F&FI
