16 Nov 2004
Home Textiles(HKTDC Houseware, Vol 01,2005)
Home TextilesBeautiful Interiors
Changing household textiles is an easy and convenient way to give tired-looking home interiors a new lift without spending big, and Hong Kong manufacturers excel at a wide variety of beautiful accessories incorporating quality textiles. Take, for example, Scent of Asia Ltd's innovative and fragrant cushion covers. "Our cushion covers give off a gentle fragrance as they are leant against," says general manager C.Y. Lam. "The scents available include lavender and other natural aromas chosen for their relaxing qualities. We source the sachets from Thailand, where they are handmade by a family firm." The rich-looking cushion covers are stitched in velvet, silk and faux suede sourced from the Chinese mainland, and Lam says the products sell well in most countries. The company also makes fine quality table linen and eye masks for relaxation, as well as other decorative textile items for the home. "Our main markets are France, South Africa, the US, Germany and Malaysia," says Lam. "We are also looking to expand onto the Chinese mainland and are considering opening a retail store in Hong Kong." The company, founded in 2002, has already built a worldwide customer base. "Each of our collections is uniquely themed, taking inspiration from the rich cultural and ethnic diversity in Asia," says Lam. Products are made under the Scent of Asia brand, or with customers' logos and general FOB Hong Kong unit prices range from US$2.50-3.80. A minimum order is 500 items, or 1,000 items for products with customers' logos, while the delivery time is 30-45 days. Production takes place at the firm's 200-worker, 10,000-square-foot factory in Shenzhen on the mainland. Meanwhile, according to Ladycare Amenities Mfg Co Ltd, a hotels and airlines amenities specialist, bathrooms of some of the most famous five-star hotels in Europe are equipped with its guest robes. "Our line in terrycloth bathrobes and slippers goes mainly to hotels," says Shereen Chan, export executive at this ISO 9001-certified company. "The hotel-type bathrobes are suitable for home use, while we make other versions in velour and waffle cotton for hotter climates." She says that FOB Hong Kong unit prices for bathrobes range from US$7-9 and that "major markets are in Europe, with the UK top of the list". Apart from bathrobes, says Chan, Ladycare has managed to capture a large share of the market for travel amenities provided by hotels and airlines since its establishment in 1980. "We have three manufacturing sites with a total area of 250,000 square feet in Guangdong Province on the Chinese mainland," she advises. "We have a vertically integrated production process handling everything from raw materials to packaging." Monthly output of all Ladycare's products totals more than two million units, and the minimum order is 1,000 pieces for delivery within 40 days of order confirmation. Another firm, Potter Industries Ltd, recognises that storage units are an important feature of any home and offers roomy and attractive space-saving ideas, such as bags that can be stored under beds and foldable laundry hampers. All items are available in coordinated fabrics and main markets are the US, France and Japan. "However, we are hoping to expand onto the Chinese mainland," says general manager Gabriel Li. "We received a big mainland boost when we exhibited at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's recent Hong Kong Style trade fair held in Shanghai," says Li. "The fair formed an important and convenient way for us to introduce our products to mainland buyers, and the results were very good." Monthly production of 500,000 items is achieved at a 450-worker, 5,000-square-metre factory in Foshan on the mainland using materials such as woven canvas and knitted polyester - the bulk of which come from mainland sources. "Our innovative storage units are designed by an in-house team that produces new ideas every season, and we also hold several structure patents for certain products. We are also happy to work with a customer's ideas," Li informs. Li says the minimum order is 2,000 pieces and delivery is within 45 days of a confirmed order. FOB Hong Kong unit prices range from US$0.30-5.00. Decorative storage boxes for CDs and similar-sized items are the specialty of Gintex Development Co Ltd, which makes units for famous names like Hello Kitty, Wal-Mart and Avon. "We have a professional development team that works with customers to make original products under their brand names," says marketing executive Maria Mak. "Our Hello Kitty range, for example, has proved a big success." According to Mak, total monthly production ranges in value from US$380,000-500,00. This is exported mainly to Japan, the US and Canada. "We are considering including the Hong Kong and mainland markets in the future," she reveals. Gintex, founded in 1998, operates an 800-worker, ISO 9001-certified, 10,000-square-metre factory in Guangdong Province. Apart from the storage bags, other product lines include shopping and cosmetics bags and nursery items. FOB Hong Kong unit prices start from US$0.30 and go up to US$8-9. For beautiful home accessories in a wide selection of textiles, buyers around the world know that Hong Kong manufacturers can cut the cloth to suit all needs. WRITTEN BY WINSOME LANE Contact Details Casablanca Int'l Ltd Eastrade Industrial Ltd Gintex Development Co Ltd Ladycare Amenities Mfg Co Ltd Potter Industries Ltd Scent Of Asia Ltd Sun Sun Trading Co
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