Demand Growing for China-made Goods

Attitudes towards 'Made in China' goods appear to be changing. Just as the 'Made in Japan' label used to be a mark of lower quality products and design, more consumers are realising that Chinese manufacturing is improving in terms of quality and design. Ben McCarthy, a Hong-Kong-based Australian furniture designer, says that the capacity of China's massive manufacturing sector gives designers the chance to have anything made at any specified quality.

For his latest project, McCarthy created a line of furniture made from recycled aluminium and marble manufactured in China. The products match up to world standards and were exhibited in Milan. McCarthy is just one of many interior, product, and fashion designers choosing to base themselves in and around China to take advantage of the local manufacturing and market opportunities. Kirsten Stanisich, interior design director at SJB Architects, suggests that China and Hong Kong will continue to play an important role for local design in the coming years, particularly as 3D printing takes hold in design industries. The Design Institute of Australia ambassador Geoff Fitzpatrick agrees that China has already shed its former image as a manufacturer of poor quality products.