Is China The Future of Glasses?

Unfortunately, the global move to China means that many of the usual items on the market nowadays may not even be made in the traditional as you'd expect. That being said, there are actually a few businesses that, surprisingly, have decided to ditch local production and have all their goods made in China today. Nothing looks sweeter than a pair of Ray-Ban shades made in China - that's why they make them! But how does this affect the consumer?

Well, for one thing, it means a lower price for you. Obviously, because Chinese-made items cost less to produce, you should find the lower prices more attractive. After all, no European designer can compete with the Chinese manufacturers, who often operate at a significant cost advantage. So it stands to reason that if Chinese factories make an item whose price is cheaper, then the consumer should be able to enjoy it (of course, we should also mention that while the lower pricing might make buying from China might be a good idea, it is always a good idea to choose an authorized made in China).

However, there are issues about the quality of items produced in China in general. The main problem is that many of the components used in the fabrication of most cheaply manufactured products tend to wear out quickly. This means that, after a period of use, your pair of Ray-Ban shades will begin to look very worn out! The solution to this problem is to purchase your shades from a company that uses high quality raw materials and that ensures their components are manufactured to high standards.

As an example of what we mean here, one popular alternative eyewear producer in the UK is Eyeglass World. Their china-fabricated frames have a very low price point relative to those sold in the west (at least in comparison to those sold in China or other eastern countries). The problem with this, however, is that Eyeglass World products are prone to a whole range of common eye wear manufacturing problems, such as chipping or fraying. While some people may be tempted to think that these eyewear producers are using cheap labor, the fact is that they are using extremely cheap materials.

The other problem facing the majority of us companies manufacturing in China is the use of hazardous chemicals in their raw materials. The main problem here is that China has one of the highest rates of air pollution in the world. When glass is produced in China, for example, it is not unusual for tens of thousands of pounds worth of chemicals to be emitted into the air during the manufacturing process. These chemicals can pollute the water used by the factory, and when the finished product is sent to us we often smell them or taste them. It is hardly possible for companies to continue manufacturing without fear of endangering their staff.

A final eye sore issue is that a lot of companies selling off bulk manufactured goods in China will do so via unlicensed brokers. Unlicensed brokers operate in another country and do not have to follow all of the necessary regulations that we do. A number of unscrupulous "manufacturing warehouses" in China have been set up by unlicensed brokers who sell China to individuals. We can only imagine the hazards to which Chinese workers are subject when working in these types of conditions.

Eyeglass World is one of many companies operating in China, but they are by far the best - and the only ones that manufacture in China with complete integrity. They source their raw materials from China, and only sell to authorized dealers who also complete a full set of post shared quality checks with them. In fact, they do not even sell directly to consumers in the United States. All of their products are shipped from their factory via freight forwarders and then on to distributors throughout the US. This is just to name a few of the responsibilities that Eyeglass World has when it comes to manufacturing their own glasses.

In conclusion, I would say that we cannot discount the fact that Nike manufactures in China, even though they do not sell directly to consumers in the United States. Their revenue is still robust and they do sell to the American consumer. I also find it troubling that many of our athletes are sponsored by this company, but that is just a testament of how China can circumvent all of our trade restrictions. If Nike's sales in China were cut in half, or even eliminated, that would be a very different situation altogether. Instead, Nike continues to expand aggressively into China, increasing their profits, while working hard to adhere to all of our stringent rules and regulations.