Santa suits get cost-driven makeover

Manufacturers using fabrics to replace cotton due to price rises

SHANGHAI - Santa Claus may be restricted to wearing non-woven fabrics this Christmas because the price of cotton, which has often been used in festive costumes in the past, has risen sharply.

According to the website cottonchina.org, the cost of a ton of cotton has climbed from 18,000 yuan ($2,700) on Sept 1 to its current price of more than 28,500 yuan.

A quick glance at the Christmas products market in the coastal city of Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang province, which is famous for its manufacture of niche items, shows that more companies this year are making Christmas costumes out of manmade fibers than out of cotton.

Father Christmas costumes made from non-woven fabrics are selling for between 9.5 yuan and 35 yuan. Flannel costumes can also be found, priced at about 180 yuan.

"Making Christmas costumes out of cotton is too costly," said Xie Jie, a sales manager at Yiwu Hang Tian Christmas Arts and Crafts Company.

Cotton costumes this year will rare around the world in markets supplied by China.

"Cotton Christmas costumes made in China can hardly be seen in London while non-woven fabrics or flannel ones are more noticeable in the market this year," said Jin Liang, a Chinese citizen who has been living in London for more than five years.

But some larger companies in Yiwu are still making cotton costumes, despite the rise in the cost of the raw material.

Youlide Group, which has been making Christmas products for more than 17 years, is still offering cotton costumes for 58 yuan a suit, according to Gong Yuequan, general manager of the company.

"Although the cost of cotton has surged greatly recently, we have not raised our prices," said Gong. "We have to keep our price steady to guarantee our export volume, which will, in turn, attract more customers next year."

The cost of cotton also seems to be affecting the size of Christmas tree decorations.

Ornaments made of cotton that are stuffed with sand or polyfoam and hung on trees in homes all around the world are noticeably slimmer this year.

Some critics have suggested that the slimmer look is due to the fact that manufacturers are trying to save on the use of cotton.

But Chen Jinlin, secretary-general of the Yiwu Christmas Products Industry Association, said the slimmer decorations are not solely due to the cost of cotton.

"Actually, many manufacturers started to stuff their Christmas tree decorations with sand or polyfoam a long time ago. Those that look different are new styles and patterns that have been introduced to attract new clients. Our association has been long encouraging companies here to do these innovative things," said Chen.

There may be an increase in the price of Christmas items that are made of cotton and some items that were made of cotton in the past may now be made of other materials, Chen said.