TMD 402H - Globalization in the Textile and Apparel Complex

Imported Quilts

Sarah Pratt

Summary by Maureen Rabbitt 

Sarah spoke about the art of quiltmaking and the importation of Chinese quilts to America. She introduced the basic types of quilts and techniques of quilt making, and discussed how quilts made in America differ from quilts made in China.

Sarah opened with the Smithsonian controversy that began in 1992. The Smithsonian negotiated a three-year contract with American Pacific to reproduce quilts from the museum's collection using overseas labor. One year later, after American quiltmakers protested, an agreement was reached that only three more designs would be made overseas.

China, a communist country, continues to be underdeveloped and overpopulated. Textiles are a major industry in the country, and in 2000 China's trade deficit stood at only twenty million dollars. China joined the World Trade organization in 2001 after 16 years of negotiations.

The PDK company manufactures "American" quilts in China. This Massachusetts-based company is ranked in the top five among bedding companies and competes with companies such as American Pacific, Sunham, and the Wal-Mart Corporation. PDK produces brand name bedding such as Sunday River, Country River, and Valerie. The company owns several plants in China, importing over 300,000 quilts every year.

Sarah also discussed the types of factories that PDK operates. Sarah pointed out that every PDK factory has a clean and modern environment. Every quilt is handmade and takes approximately sixty days to make. The company employs 160,000 people and prides itself on quality assurance and highly efficient inspection stations.

Sarah discussed the different types of quilts and the process of quiltmaking in depth. The three different types of quilts are pieced or patchwork, applique, and whole cloth. American handmade quilts are considered heirlooms and are passed down from generation to generation. Several characteristics of American-made quilts differ from Chinese-made quilts. Sarah pointed out that American quilts have more stitches per inch, the stitches go through the backs of the quilts, and they tend to retail for much more money. Some important elements indicating quality in quilts include spacing, accurate piecing, edge quality, evenness of binding on the edges, and the amounts of stitches per inch.

What does the future hold? In 2005, all quotas on foreign-made products will be lifted. Sarah believes that consumers will continue to search for products that are lower in cost; thus, the market for Chinese-made quilts will grow.

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