Wig Sector Growth: Chinese village becomes global giant

World
Europe

02:29

Meanwhile, Chinese wig makers are also flourishing. A small village in China has its roots in the business. Its residents have spent decades making wigs and other hair products, and now they could be taking things to a new level. Here's CGTN's Zhao Yunfei.

An ancient Chinese village with over 300 years of history is well connected to the world by its hair. Xuchang is said to be the birthplace of wigs and weaves. In one individual workshop, Zhang Guiqin is combing double-drawn hair. You might say she lives the life of a "pleasant peasant", thanks to her passion for what she does.

ZHANG GUIQIN XIAOGONG VILLAGE "I don't need to worry about the crops, the machines can take care of them. I would rather do this, because it can make a lot of money."

More than half of Xiaogong Village's 900 households make a living from the hair industry, either by sorting it out or selling it. Some routinely make more than a ten percent profit.

ZHAO YUNFEI XUCHANG, HENAN PROVINCE "It has been a century-long business. Local villagers have collected hair ever since the Qing Dynasty. Now, the wig legacy has turned to a widespread global industry."

With the urbanization process underway, many young people in the village have moved downtown in pursuit of better careers. Some of them have joined the local wig manufacturing giant, Rebecca. The company has stretched its assembly lines out of the country to Nigeria, Ghana and Cambodia.

HU LIPING, BOARD SECRETARY HENAN REBECCA HAIR PRODUCTS "Labor costs in China are increasing. Establishing a production line abroad can help solve the problem. It also shortens the market cycle and saves on shipping costs."

Industrialization and globalization have raised the threshold of the hair industry. From the technology of synthetic hair production to sewing skills, Rebecca participated in writing the industry's world standard. Now, the era of collecting hair domestically is almost over. The company has moved its upstream supply chain to India.

ZU LEI WIG MATERIAL PURCHASING DIRECTOR "It's an industrial upgrade. Originally, we collected hair and sold wigs just in China. Now we see the chain from a global perspective. Meanwhile, the quality of the items has also improved."

Rebecca's response to China's Belt and Road initiative has also boosted employment in all of its 11 international branches, as the market goes wider with evolving demand. Zhao Yunfei, CGTN, Xuchang, Henan Province.