3 years ago, on April 22nd 2010, a new website took its place on the Internet stage: Nicely Made in China (NMiC) published its first story about companies making quality products and services in China.  That story was about a photographic laboratory on the outskirts of Beijing and it attracted a total of 9 people from China, France and Australia.

3 years and 80 articles later Nicely Made in China has been visited by over 150,000 visitors who have viewed more than 400,000 pages. Week after week, NMiC has helped you discover that all over China there are both Chinese and foreigners producing quality products and services, often using skills honed over thousands of years by Chinese workers.

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you, our cherished readers – from 198 countries – for helping Nicely Made in China evolve into this unique showcase, where those who make quality products in China can present them to the world.

Recently, we decided to take the leap into e-commerce and proposed some interesting and surprising products for purchase through the site.  These products, from 3 of our featured companies, can now be bought via Nicely Made in China: Khunu yak wool sweaters, Shanghai Trio accessories and Tranquil Tuesdays tea and teawares.

In the good news department Nicely Made in China has now extended its network to Europe with its sister website Nicely Made in Britain which presents quality products – often handmade – in Britain.

NMiC would like to take this opportunity to thank its loyal sponsors:

• Serge Pierrard who founded Beijing-based travel agency Travel Stone – which specialises in travel advice, hotel bookings and airline tickets in China and across Asia in general,
•  Virginie Fournier and her company Shanghai Trio which makes handmade accessories mixing raw materials and traditional fabrics with local know-how and is now making nicely made in china corporate gifts.

And last but not least, we thank our two most recent additions to the Nicely Made in China family:

• Fabrice Turries who runs the Hong Kong arm of Palazzari & Turries, a  J.V and mergers specialist firm , and
• Joanna Dodd who runs the Rochester PR group, a London-based P.R company with strong ties to China that also helps Chinese companies settle in the UK.

We would also like to acknowledge the support of Patrick O’Donnell and his company, Links Moving international movers . Their early faith in us and what we were doing, convinced us that we were on the right track and were doing something which even 3 years ago was still considered controversial but is becoming more accepted by the day – that is, to associate in the same sentence the words ‘Nicely’ and ‘Made in China’.

The simple pleasure of a cup of tea can be a very welcome break from the frenetic pace of life. But how to know which tea is best, when there are hundreds to choose from: Lapsang Souchong, Pu’er, Oolong, white tea, green tea…and so on. Nicely Made in China’s (NMiC) guest this week is Charlene Wang, a Californian of Chinese origin. She’s a tea aficionado and the founder of Tranquil Tuesdays, a new player in the world of tea merchants. She has taken it upon herself to bring the best tea leaves from China to the thirsty world.

Charlene what is your connection with China and when did you arrive in Beijing?

My great-great grandfather emigrated from Guangdong to Trinidad-and-Tobago and then, in the 20′s, moved to Boston where he opened a restaurant. I first arrived in Guanxi in 1999 to teach English to the Dong minority and in 2000 moved to Beijing to study. After several trips back and forth to the US, I finally returned to China for good in March 2010.

When did you have the idea to create Tranquil Tuesdays?

Even as a child, I was always crazy about tea. And since 2005, I’ve had the idea of creating a company that would help women by giving them work. One day when drinking Mariage Frères tea with friends I realized that there was no Chinese brand bringing Chinese tea to the global audience. That’s how it started.

Why did you choose Tranquil Tuesdays as a name for the company that sells Chinese tea and tea set gifts? 

Because it’s my favorite day of the week! Tuesdays were the day of rest and relaxation when I was in Washington D.C for training as a diplomat.

When did you start the company?

We launched Tranquil Tuesdays in June 2010 with the idea of conveying the long history of Chinese tea in a fresh and modern way. Additionally the women’s empowerment side of our business is very important to us.   As an example, one of our employees used to be an ayi (house maid) with little education – now she’s our inventory manager. I take my inspiration for this from Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles (HI runs seven social enterprises that train ex-gang members) I believe that given the right opportunity people can flourish. We now employ 6 women, many of whom have similar stories.

So how did you start?

In China tea is so varied – it can be grassy and green or roasted or nutty – in a way it’s very similar to how wine is described. From the myriad of brands available, it can be difficult to find unscented and unblended Chinese tea. So early on we made a commitment to source our tea from its terroir (the region where it is grown): our White Peony comes from Fuding and Fujian, our Mao Jian green tea from Wuyi and Zhejiang, our Oolong Irong Goddess of Mercy from Anxi and Fujian, our Qimen black tea from Qimen and Anhui and our Ancient Wild Tree Pu’er from Xishuangban’na and Yunnan.

How did the local tea producers receive you?

Initially there was some annoyance because we wanted such small quantities: our first order was for 6 jins (3 kgs) but they sent us 60 jins! We had to prove that we were sincere and honest. To build up long-term relationships, we always show up in person to meet the producers. It is the same with the tea-ware makers in Jingdezhen (Jiangxi province). We visit our 6 tea producers and 3 tea-ware artists 2 or 3 times a year.

What type of quality control do you have in place? Regarding for instance the use of pesticides?

That’s another reason why we go in person, so we can see how things are done  – it  allows us to deepen the personal relationships and understand and trust the product better.

Which tea sells the most?

It’s a tie between the Phoenix Honey Orchid Oolong and the White Peony. The Oolong is nutty, floral and bold but natural, when the White Peony is sweet, gentle, refreshing and delicate. Pu’er is more smoky and earthy.

Have you noticed a difference between your Chinese and your non-Chinese clients?

Yes indeed. First of all they have different buying patterns. For instance, our Chinese customers think it’s silly to buy less than 50g of tea. Also, in China tastes are commonly based on regional tastes so I can often guess where my Chinese clients are from by looking at their order. Non-Chinese customers have less of a pre-conceived notion about which tea they want to buy. They’ll buy something they like, when our Chinese clients are more aware of which tea is popular at a given time.

Charlene where can our readers buy Tranquil Tuesdays tea? Do you ship tea all over the world?

Yes we do ship all over the world and Nicely Made in China readers will enjoy a 10% discount on all products on our website. Our products are sold in Shanghai and in a couple of places in Manhattan as well as in Formaggio Kitchen in Boston. All the addresses are on our website.

As an introduction to Tranquil Tuesdays Nicely Made in China readers will enjoy a 10% discount on all products on Tranquil Tuesdays website by using the discount code ‘NMICTT10′ at the check-out.

Here are 3 products we’ve selected from the world of Tranquil Tuesdays:

	PHOENIX HONEY ORCHID OOLONG TEA: Smoothly sweet, honey, citrus, and floral orchid notes combine to offer a refreshingly gentle, pleasant and light-bodied brew. Packets of 20g (0.7oz) and tins of 30g (1.oz), 50g (1.8oz) and 250g (1/2 lb). Prices: from US$ 12 to US$ 80. Shipping: Inside China: free / To the US: US$ 10 / To the rest of the world: US$ 18. 10% reduction after using the discount code ‘NMICTT10′ Click here to buy Phoenix Honey Orchid Oolong tea
	FLUTTERING LEAF TEAPOT: The perfect delicately hand-painted single-serving teapot or for enjoying tea gong fu style with friends.  Our Fluttering Leaf Teapot comes in our distinctive wooden gift box. Price: US$ 100.  Shipping: Inside China: free / To the US: US$ 10 / To the rest of the world: US$ 18. 10% reduction after using the discount code ‘NMICTT10′ Click here to buy this Fluttering Leaf Teapot
	WHITE PEONY WHITE TEA: Naturally withered, this is the least processed of all teas and simply refreshingly lovely. Packets of 20g (0.7oz) and tins of 20g (0.7oz), 30g (1.oz) and 250g (1/2 lb). Prices: from US$ 8 to US$ 65. Shipping: Inside China: free / To the US: US$ 10 / To the rest of the world: US$ 18. 10% reduction after using the discount code ‘NMICTT10′ Click here to buy White Peony White Tea

Today’s Nicely Made in China story is different. We’ve interviewed Elisa Haberer, a photographer and filmmaker born in Seoul and brought up in Chalon-sur-Saône (France) – the cradle of photography. (Full disclosure – Elisa is a friend.) She has just released her first documentary film called “My lucky bird” [follow the link and do a search with Lucky Bird to watch the film]. The subject of “My lucky bird” appealed to us and we hope that you will find it interesting too: for a year Elisa followed 3 young Chinese women – all aged 23 – and filmed them in their daily lives as they embarked on major changes. “My lucky bird” illustrates with a humane eye, the challenges facing China’s young women today. (Elisa was based in Beijing from 2004 to 2011.)

Elisa, why did you start this project?

My goal was to show daily life in China while avoiding the now familiar story of extremes (double-digit growth, abject poverty, incredible wealth, the economic miracle). This is already well documented in the media, so I turned my camera toward the emerging middle-class.

What is the film about?

For a year I followed 3 young women living in Beijing who were at a turning point in their lives, by choice or forced into it. Wang Meng was looking for a job which would change her life. Tang Qi – from a small town near Wuhan in Hubei – dreamed of living in Beijing. Lei Shuang Mei, the third child in a family of 5, was about to move and study in Leicester in the UK. The 3 women have grown up in a China dominated by the one-child-policy, a new consumer-led society, and possibly most significant of all, for the 1^st time in China,  a generation which can express itself. If there’s an intense social pressure on these women, there’s also a space full of possibilities, something that their parents never experienced.

What is a « lucky bird »?

At the beginning of  the film Lei Shuang Mei explains that in China, there is a bird which is called Lucky Bird. It’s known to bring luck. When, like these women, you reach a turning point in your life, the « luck » factor becomes more important.

How did you find those 3 women?

I did not want to work with people I already knew, so I placed personal ads via the internet. I received about 40 replies and the selection process (face-to-face interviews in the main) took 4 months. Listening to these girls I recognised their strong urge to record what they were going through.

Why 3 women and why not a mix of men and women?

I specifically wanted to work with women because in Asia the relationship between the sexes requires more codes than in the West and as a woman I thought it’d be easier to work with women.

How did the shooting go?

The filming was spread over a period of 12 months. It was made possible because the 3 characters really wanted to be filmed. They were very accepting of the camera following them around as I had to spend a lot of time with them. The biggest challenge was in the editing room – where I worked with the editor Alexandra Willot. Our task was to intertwine the 3 profiles and stay close to the human side of the story in order to avoid remaining in a descriptive mode.

What did you learn from undertaking this work?

In my time in China, I’ve had many interesting situations but what was special about this is that it allowed me to go deep inside Chinese society. Making this film made me realize that fundamentally the problems facing these young women are the same as those facing young people in the west: how to exist as a individual and how to find a place in society – a constant dialogue between what I want and what I can. In modern China it’s common to flaunt your wealth but talking about your inner doubts remains new.

The film, in Mandarin with French subtitles, was produced by Upside Télévision and the channel Public Sénat.

Music by Cell’Opera Quartet (Chaconne by J-S Bach)

Length of the film: 52 mn.

Already broadcast once, it will be screened 5 more times on Channel 13 Public Senat: on Saturday 9th of March at 10 pm, Sunday 10th at 6 pm, Monday 11th at 5.15 pm, Saturday 16th at 3.15 pm and Sunday 17th at 9 am.

To watch the film click here. (52 mn / In Mandarin with French subtitles)

Buy Shanghai Trio products with a 10% discount using your code

“NMIC10” in the VOUCHERS box at the check-out.

Please find below 5 products selected from the Shanghai Trio collection:

	Set of 3 Vanity Cases « Rice Measure » – Linen - The shape is inspired by ancient rice measures, small wooden cups used traditionally in China by rice merchants. « 3 in 1, 3 uses ». - Size: Large: 27,5 x 14,5 cm / Medium: 23 x 12 cm / Small: 16,5 x 8,5 cm. - Price for the set of 3 vanity cases: € 71 (including tax) (shipping not included) 10% reduction after using the discount code « NMIC10″ in the Vouchers box. Click here to buy this Vanity Case « Rice Measure »
	Baby Top & Pants « Qiandeng » - Merino wool. - Price: € 49 (including tax) (shipping not included) 10% reduction after using the discount code « NMIC10″ in the Vouchers box. Click here to buy this Shanghai Trio Baby Top and Pants « Qiandeng »
	Rain Coat « Workers »- 2years – Fluorescent Yellow  - Polyester - Price: € 59 (including tax) (shipping not included) 10% reduction after using the discount code « NMIC10″ in the Vouchers box. Click here to buy this Shanghai Trio Rain Coat « Workers »
	Sofa Throw « Leaves » – Wool and silk - Wool and silk binded by hand. Warm and elegant. - Size: 145 x 180 cm. - Price: € 290 (including tax) (shipping not included) 10% reduction after using the discount code « NMIC10″ in the Vouchers box. Click here to buy this Shanghai Trio Sofa Throw
	Travel Bag « Gougou » – Polyester - Size: 55 x 19 x 28 cm. - Price: € 75 (including tax) (shipping not included) 10% reduction after using the discount code « NMIC10″ in the Vouchers box. Click here to buy this Shanghai Trio Travel Bag « Gougou »

Nicely Made in China (NMiC) would like to wish all our readers and loyal sponsors (Beijing-based travel agent Travel-Stone, joint ventures & mergers specialists Palazzari & Turries and Shanghai Trio – corporate gifts, handmade crafts) a very happy new year of the snake. May this year bring you and your loved ones happiness, health and good fortune.

Today umbrellas, like many other products, are often manufactured in China. In 2007 that’s where New Zealanders Scott Kington – who studied marine biology at Auckland university – and Greig Brebner – a mechanical engineer – the founders of Blunt Umbrellas, took their idea for a revolutionary umbrella. In the following interview Scott Kington tells Nicely Made in China (NMiC) how he and his partner launched the company Blunt Umbrellas.

Scott how did the Blunt Umbrellas story begin?

We are New Zealanders but actually Blunt Umbrellas’ story began in London. In 1999 Greig Brebner, who is quite tall, was living in the UK. On the crowded streets of London he found that the spokes – or rib tips - of other people’s umbrellas were right at his eye level. That’s what spurred him to invent a new design that would not be so dangerous. Inventing a new design for the rib ends would have been enough. However, he also wanted his design to be easier to use in windy weather. He identified that a tighter and flatter canopy would be the optimal solution. On regular umbrellas the frame opening force is upwards and creates fabric tension in the centre of the canopy but , as you’ve probably noticed, the tension reduces the closer you get to the canopy edge. Therefore the opening force needed to be spread outwards all the way to the canopy edge – to create superior canopy tension. This was achieved by inventing the Radial Tensioning System that uses unique strut levers, telescopic floating ribs and most importantly the Blunt Tip mechanisms.

So Greig having come up with the technology I suggested that we form a company around it and sell it to the world. We then built the company and we started manufacturing our umbrellas in New Zealand. In this way we proved that people liked them and that they would buy them. But as soon as we got investment we knew that if we wanted to grow we could not continue manufacturing in NZ as we would remain a niche umbrella.

Why did you go to China to manufacture your umbrellas?

The umbrella industry is so well entrenched in China that it’s now almost impossible to replicate it anywhere else in the world. So we would have landed somewhere in China anyway, but the key was finding David Haythornthwaite, who’s considered a guru in the umbrella industry!  He helped us with the whole set-up and we are now manufacturing in a factory one hour outside of Xiamen.

How is the relationship with the factory’s owner?

The owner is Taiwanese. At first we ordered small quantities (600 pieces) to test the water and the process. Because we were doing something different the owner persevered with us and we soon moved to larger orders.

People tend to think that by manufacturing in China you’re exposed to having your technology stolen. Are you worried about that?

Not really, because we’re focused on getting better and better. Our patent is so distinguishable that to make our product cheaper you would have to reduce the quality of it. A patent proves to investors that you’ve got something unique.

What type of quality control have you got in place? 

We have an external QC that checks every single umbrella before it leaves the factory. We also regularly take a selection of our umbrellas to Wellington where New Zealand’s biggest wind tunnel is located, to search of any potential weakness.

Where can NMiC readers buy your umbrellas?

Our umbrellas are sold in 23 countries and 785 stores, and we’re aiming to be in 2000 stores by the end of 2013. We’re now sold in the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco and also in the famous Tokyu Hands department store in Tokyo, where the king and queen of Malaysia bought two of our umbrellas. To find your nearest distributor or store check our store locator.

What’s your approach to customer service?

We’re trying to move away from the throw away culture that prevails today. That’s why we’re making high-end quality umbrellas. Our philosophy is trying to instill in all our customers that you don’t just walk the extra mile – you walk the extra 14 miles! And we’d like our distributors to have the same philosophy. We’re building a brand that people will love and trust.

Website: www.bluntumbrellas.com

K’o-ssu – also written kesi – or Chinese silk tapestry, is a complex traditional Chinese weaving technique which had its heyday during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. Today there are less than 100 people working across China in this area. Frequently used to make clothes for imperial families and to reproduce famous Chinese paintings, nowadays this little known craft faces extinction due to lack of demand. However, there are signs of renewed interest, and to learn more about this precious technique, Nicely Made in China travelled to “textile town”, Nantong in Jiangsu province, to visit a young K’o-ssu maker, Mr. Wang Haoran.

Mr Wang could you please describe the technique of K’o-ssu and tell us how it was used in ancient China?

Unlike other weaving methods in which the vertical (warp) and horizontal (weft) threads extend back and forth completely across the loom, K’o-ssu is done on a simple plain-weave loom using a technique in which the warp threads fully extend but the weft threads do not. In other words, the warp threads go through the fabric while the weft threads interweave to produce colors and patterns. When a finished piece is viewed against the light it seems like it has been carved with a knife, just like its Chinese name indicates. K’o-ssu was considered a luxury in ancient China. During the Song Dynasty, it would take a woman a year to weave a K’o-ssu wedding dress for herself. The fabric was also used to make prayer flags for religious ceremonies, front covers for Buddhist manuscripts and emperors’ scrolls. It was later applied to home textiles and clothes.

How did you get involved in the K’o-ssu business?

I was born into a K’o-ssu family. My grandfather Mr Wang Yuxiang was a K’o-ssu master. But during the 70′s, 80s and early 90s, the domestic market was not developed. The family business concentrated on subcontracting, making kimono waistband (obi) and cassocks for Japanese partners. In 2007, my grandpa established Xuanhe K’o-ssu Crafts Research Institute and started to use Xuanhe as a brand name for K’o-ssu products. Influenced by this family tradition, I developed an interest in K’o-ssu. I started my own research on the topic when I was at college, but only found limited resources in the libraries. The best books were from Hong Kong and Taiwan as nothing was published in China about K’o-ssu until 2009. I joined the family business immediately after graduation, and last year I established my own workshop.

Why did you start your own workshop?

I established my own workshop so that I could make some changes. I want to do more than just  produce the fabric, and I do not want to see K’o-ssu being labeled as an intangible cultural heritage. I strongly believe that irrespective of how K’o-ssu is displayed in museums, if it has no connection to daily life, it will be further marginalized. Running a business such as this is like looking at the setting sun. If we want the sun to rise again for K’o-ssu, K’o-ssu needs an infusion of fresh ideas and I need a team of designers to help me find the right niche. Having said that, my idea is not to mix traditional products with modern ones. Instead, I choose to design items around some of the ancient traditions that have survived, such as the tea and incense ceremonies, guqin and Kunqu opera. For example, we have designed a sachet in which to preserve incense which can be used anywhere.

What other products are you developing?

I used to write a column about traditional Chinese home textiles for L’Officiel Art magazine, during which time I discovered that although traditional mahogany furniture (Ming and Qing style) is still very popular, the traditional home textiles are forgotten. In Nantong, the Dieahiqiao home textile market is bigger than the whole of the downtown area but it is dominated by Western furniture and decorations while traditional Chinese home textiles are absent. I have decided therefore to revive traditional home textiles by combining them with K’o-ssu and embroidery.

Who is the product designer? How many employees do you have?

I decide the size, pattern and style of the products, then I ask a painter to make the drawings. In this sense I am the designer. We also have an assistant designer, a painter, a manager and three craftsmen, the youngest of whom is 20 years old. The oldest is 34 and has17 years’ experience of making K’o-ssu. Although it is difficult to attract young workers, I intend to build a young team – currently the average age is less than 30.

Please tell us more about the production process of K’o-ssu.

The production of K’o-ssu is relatively slow and not very lucrative. A model in the form of a painting is placed underneath the flat and even warp threads, and a brush is used to outline the forms onto the warp. Various colored threads are prepared according to the hues in the original drawing. In general, a complex K’o-ssu product such as tangka needs more than a hundred different colors. A simple piece needs 30 to 40 different colors. When all the threads are at hand the weaving process can begin and different techniques will be applied according to the complexity of the patterns. The final stage is to clean the thrums (the fringe of warp threads left on a loom after the cloth has been cut off) at the back and to frame the piece or to add a lining.

Have you cooperated with any famous brands?

In 2010, I initiated a project for XuanHe K’o-ssu Crafts Research Institute which involved designing and producing a dress for China’s top luxury brand NE-TIGER. The dress combined seven K’o-ssu techniques and was included in the permanent collection of the Capital Museum of Beijing.

Who are your customers?

We only do bespoke clothes and art pieces. We also work with private clubs. Customers order through their clubs when they see a product that they want. For now, we do not sell through any retailer. My workshop is open to the public and I plan to make it into a traditional lifestyle experience centre. The Ming and Qing style Chinese furniture in the workshop will be used to exhibit traditional textile products. Our retailer shops will be located in cities where historic buildings are well preserved and where people value history and tradition.

Address of the workshop:

Hanchen-Jinglun Craft Research Institute, No. 25-2 Fengqigan Alley, Chongchuan District, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China.

Name: 翰宸经纶堂 Address: 中国江苏省南通市崇川区冯旗杆巷25号附2

The website is under construction.

E-mail: haoran_29@hotmail.com

Bubble-Mood is a new Shanghai-based fashion brand created by 3 young Parisian entrepreneurs in 2009. Olivia Gurdjian, one of the 3 creators of the company arrived in China in 2006 after media studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. She quickly realised that Shanghai was the perfect place to start a fashion business. With her business partner Margaux Painvin and her husband Lucas Gurdjian, the trio created Bubble-Mood which is now attracting an increasing amount of attention from fashionistas. In the following interview Olivia tells Nicely Made in China (NMiC) how it all started.

What is Bubble-Mood?

Bubble-Mood is a ready-to-wear designer fashion line for women. In addition to the clothing, we also design some accessories – bracelets, leather belts and purses. We insist on using only natural and high quality materials and fabrics.

Why the name Bubble-Mood?

I always wanted to do something with « Bubble ». I find that word festive, light and feminine. As for the word « Mood » I wanted to use it to illustrate and reflect the fact that a woman may want to wear different styles at different times of the day – for example, something casual for the day and something more sophisticated for the evening.  So, we have decided to have two lines: a casual line and a more sophisticated one, giving women the possibility to choose between different types of clothes according to their mood and still remain within the Bubble-Mood brand.

What is the base of your collection?

It can vary, but recently the kimono has been the base for our collections. We turned it into a jacket, a dress – a short and a long one – and we’ve used flashy colours as well as jungle print, leopard print and various ethnic prints.

Why the kimono which is very Japanese?

I chose the kimono not so much for the reference to Japan but to take a very traditional and feminine shape, mix it with different fabrics and colours and turn it into ready-t0-wear clothing in its own right.

Who designs Bubble-Mood creations and how many collections do you make each year?

Margaux Painvin and I work together on designing the collections and on the production side. We create 2 collections a year – autumn / winter and spring / summer – but we like to keep the flexibility to be able to introduce a few more models between July and October. My husband Lucas – who runs Warehouse Studio – takes care of the visual identity of the brand.

How long does-it take for a garment to reach the stores?

Usually it takes about a month between the moment we think about a model and the day it is delivered to the store.

Where do you make your creations, and what quantities do you produce?

We make the first models in a small workshop here in Shanghai and then when it is ready, we do the final runs in a factory.  At the moment we carry about 10 models.  Each model is produced in about 30 pieces across different sizes. The next step for us is to choose just 3 or 4 models and make about one hundred pieces of each.

Where do you source your fabrics?

We source our silk in the south of China, Korea and Thailand. We keep an eye on the street trends of these 3 countries.

Where can NMiC readers can buy your products?

We have an online shop and our clothes are in stores in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Florence (Italy) and soon we hope to have a presence in London and Paris. Our new collection comes out mid-February. Please check our store-locator.

www.bubble-mood.com

As December exits, we once again welcome January, full of new hopes and plans.  It is time for Nicely Made in China to look back on the past year. 2012 has been a good year for Nicely Made in China (NMiC): the search for quality products has led 55,000 visitors to our website in 2012 (up from 51,000 in 2011) and on  December 11^th, NMiC received its 100,000th unique visitor.

This year our readers were treated to our wide range of stories on: furniture (flatpack, bamboo, specially designed for children as well as antique furniture in a museum – thanks to Juliette Salabert who runs the Alliance Française in Tianjin), fashion design (ranging from urban street-wear, retro-chic, technological, to designer legwear), interior decoration, high-end eyewear and product design. We also paid a second visit to The Chinese Timekeeper, the Hong Kong-based watchmaker, for an update on their activities.

The success of our partnership with Khunu, the yak-wool knitwear and sweater-maker, has enabled us to renew and extend our collaboration.  We look forward to establishing similar arrangements with more partners in 2013.

2012 also saw us venture outside of the Beijing-Shanghai-Hong Kong triangle for stories on companies based in Hangzhou, Tianjin and Guangzhou, all making their first appearances in NMiC. In the press Nicely Made in China was mentioned in Die Welt, the main German daily newspaper.

Further good news is that NMiC now has a sister website: Nicely Made in Britain (NMiB). Britain has an immense amount to offer in terms of quality products and we invite you to visit NMiB. We have also set up a Facebook page for this new website.

This end-of-year message would not be complete without thanking our loyal sponsors who continue to support us year after year.  Like us, they believe that quality products and services can indeed be found in China – and in growing quantity. So, we would like to thank very specially our favorite travel agent Travel Stone, the luxury bed linen maker Rouge-Baiser Elise , the Hong Kong French bookstore Parenthèses - and its brand new website – and we also would like to mention our two most recent partners who have come on board this year: Shanghai Trio which combines traditional know-how with a modern function, and the law firm Palazzari & Turries, based in Hong Kong, who specialise in joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions. A very sincere ‘thank you’ to all!

We wish you all a continued happy festive season, and a prosperous and healthy 2013.

We also would like to thank our loyal sponsors, Shanghai Trio, Parentheses, Palazzari & Turries, Travel Stone and Rouge Baiser, without whom it would be impossible to bring you the best of Chinese products week after week.