North Korean Manufacturing + A New Shaped Product

The following article is being reprinted from the online magazine SPORTSTEXTILES.COM a British publication. I just tread the article and thought it would be of interest in view of current events.

North Korean clothing factories 'fully booked' with global orders

Chinese apparel companies are increasingly contracting work out to North Korean factories but using a ‘Made in China’ label to hide this from brands and consumers, according to a report on newswire Reuters.

It said there are about 15 large state-owned textile factories that Chinese companies use to take advantage of the cheaper labour – wages are around 75% lower in North Korea and productivity is higher as they work under stricter conditions. Textiles are North Korea’s second biggest export after coal.

Rip Curl in 2016 apologised when it found out some of its products had been made in North Korea. "This was a case of a supplier diverting part of their production order to an unauthorised subcontractor, with the production done from an unauthorised factory, in an unauthorised country, without our knowledge or consent, in clear breach of our supplier terms and policies,” it said at the time.

The Reuters reporter also found factories on the Chinese side of the border were hiring North Korean workers, and paying them half as much as the Chinese. These workers earn about $300 a month, with two-thirds going to the government. A typical shift is 7.30am until 10pm.

"We've been trying to get some of our clothes made in North Korea but the factories are fully booked at the moment," a Korean-Chinese businesswoman at a factory in Dalian, China, told the news agency.

Is it any wonder why China does not take a hard line against North Korea? The question one has to ask now is how many other US based companies are getting product made by Chinese companies who have their factories in North Korea? Are they making products other than textile products as well? By the way I think this is good for the world. keep in mind money talks and ***** walks.  

BOOMERANG SHAPED HAND WARMER

My production manager made a new  shaped hand warmer after making the Pogies. The new shape is actually shaped just like a boomerang, so when you insert your arms they are in a more natural position. The new hand warmer has as its exterior fabric the DUCKSBACK material and our new L-8 Lamilite insulation with a nylon taffeta lining. there are wristlets at each end and a one inch web belt with side release buckle. It is available in each of the four DUCKS BACK colors. the cost is $45.00.