'Made In'. How To Look At It

With the world likely to reexamine how it trades and does business with China given the latest pandemic originating in Wuhan has led to a massive economic slow down ruining millions of lives while further ushering in an existential crisis, we're now rediscovering the need to manufacture goods and services locally and among like-minded nations.

China simply cheats - to keep it short and curt - and I think people have had enough of it.

The story of humanity and trade is an interesting one. Without commerce, we wouldn't be where we are. And we're here because of it and the major vehicle that allowed us to achieve unmatched prosperity and health is capitalism.

One aspect of trade is how nations brand their products. Certain 'Made in' brands command a powerful marketing advantage. When we see 'Made in Italy' for textiles, we think the highest quality.

Indeed, Italy enjoys quite a lofty position when it comes to branding and their success goes back centuries. 

Preciously brief, Renaissance Italy and Venice were cultural hubs (that still resonate to this day) because Italians were major traders with China and had access to their raw materials. 

So when we think 'Made in' we don't necessarily have to consider whether raw materials come from a specific place. We can say 'Made in England' with U.S. steel. That kind of thing but the end product is from England. By English hands and design.

The trick is to put you own 'spin' on things and in this way, Italy are one of the most successful cultures in history to borrow and trade from places and produce a uniquely Italian brand. Think Italian silk mills and the ties it produces.

Italians are masters because they're creative artists and engineers. Same with countries like England, France and Germany. 

So for me the 'source' is not the main issue. 

Here's another example to add to our England example. Canada sends a lot of timber to Europe in which they then use to make furniture. The product still says, for example, 'Made in France' and if they want during the selling process to say, 'Wood from Quebec' the can. But it's still a French product. Think of it this way. If you have an idea for a film, it's just an idea. You can't sell the idea. You have to write and turn into something. The idea is the raw material. The scrip the tangible product.

That sort of thing. Bicycles same issue. Campagnolo make famous group sets but get their raw materials from abroad and set up part of their shop in Romania.

Italian and French cuisine use plenty of ingredients that aren't from those countries but they're still among the world's most popular and beloved culinary nations.  Mostly because Italian and French know-how are masters at manipulating ingredients and to fashion them into delicious flavours that please the palate.

The borrowing and spin friction is what makes it unique and blends into the 'Made in...'  It's the putting together with craftsmanship that ultimately counts.

Here's yet another way to look at it. My father was a resected tailor and he carried the finest fabric from England and Italy because to him, this was the epitome of fine quality and his clients demanded it. I remember him saying to me when making me a cut, 'Vestito Inglese!' and making that classic Italian hand gesture signifying beauty. 

Made from the heart.