Matthieu David interviews Vincent Djen, Director of Cheng Kung Garments and CEO of REMAKEHUB. The textile industry has consistently been a labor-intensive industry. In this episode, we explore what the future hold for the garment industry and how a circular economy fits into that. Are Chinese consumers already requesting fashion products made from recycled materials? Can textile factories be digitalized yet or is there still a long way to go before that happens? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm interview.
0:00 Guest introduction
5:59 How did the current outbreak affect the garment industry?
7:51 Is the winter collection delayed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak?
8:17 The story behind Cheng Kung Garments
10:31 How and why did Vincent Djen decide to take over the family business?
13:28 Cheng Kung Garments - the current size of business
14:27 What are the highs and lows of a season in the garment industry?
17:05 How much of Cheng Kung Garments' production is in-house and how much is outsourced?
20:53 Is China still the best place for the textile industry?
24:31 Why is the textile industry still so labor intensive?
26:39 What are the costs of using robotics for manufacturing instead of people?
28:56 What are the initial costs for entrepreneurs who would want to get into the textile industry?
33:01 Is there support from the Chinese government to make factories more innovative?
37:03 How is 3D printing helping the textile industry?
41:09 How does Recycling fit into the day to day activities of the Cheng Kung Garments factory?
44:06 Mechanical vs Chemical Recycling - how many times can a product be recycled?
46:42 REMAKEHUB - what and why have specific products been picked for recycling?
48:12 Why was adding traceability for waste products recycled by REMAKEHUB important?
49:42 REMAKEHUB - following the "Cradle to cradle" design concept
50:50 Do big fashion companies already use recycled products?
52:50 Is it easy to tell if a finished product is made from recycled materials or not?
54:03 Is recycling mandatory for companies or is it still an optional feature?
56:18 Are consumers already buying products because they come from recycled materials?
57:51 What are the challenges of creating a brand in the fashion industry?
1:00:26 What is Vincent Djen's greatest business goal?
1:01:28 What books have inspired Vincent Djen in his entrepreneurial journey?
1:02:43 What does Vincent Djen read to stay up to date with China?
1:05:24 What productivity tool does Vincent Djen use to run his business?
1:08:25 What unexpected business success or failure has Vincent Djen witnessed in China?
Learn more about Cheng Kung Garments and REMAKEHUB: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cheng-kung-garments/about/ and http://www.remakehub.co/
Bridging Chinese suppliers, brands and consumers to make sustainability core product feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF7Q8pu7eno
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China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.