Design sharpens edge for Chinese exports

GUANGZHOU — Stainless steel has long endured a rather understated existence. It can be found in kitchen sinks, saucepans and rubbish bins, having proved durable and practical but unglamorous. At the 140th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong province, however, a Chinese jewelry maker is giving this metal a different purpose.

The company's display of gold-toned, silver-colored and brightly hued jewelry has drawn crowds of overseas buyers at the fair, which is also known as the Canton Fair. These pieces look like fine jewelry, but most are made of stainless steel, offering a polished finish without the price tag associated with precious metals.

With gold and silver prices soaring globally, the proposition is timely. "Some jewelry customers are turning to new product lines," said Chen Danping, deputy general manager of Guangzhou-based Justop Jewelry.

Stainless steel jewelry, Chen explained, combines jewelry-making techniques and appearance with the cost advantage of a much cheaper material.

For Jacob Ruiz Palomo, a buyer from Spain, the appeal is straightforward: the jewelry pulls off a commercial trick, making an inexpensive material look anything but cheap. "Its competitive prices need not come at the expense of good design," Palomo said.

Design redefines offerings

This technique points to a broader change in Chinese manufacturing. For decades, China's exporters built their strength on scale, speed and cost. These advantages still matter today, but many manufacturers are aiming higher and trying to beat the competition via smarter technologies and better designs.

The Canton Fair offers a snapshot of this transition. Serving as a barometer and weather-vane of China's foreign trade, this year's fair has brought together products that seek to compete not only on function and price, but also on intelligence, appearance and design.

The fair's 2026 design innovation award — known as the CF Award — offers a glimpse of where Chinese manufacturing design is heading. This year, 222 products from 174 companies made the cut, with artificial intelligence-powered products accounting for 32 percent of entries and green, low-carbon products for 44 percent. The top award winners included the ZXMoto 820RR motorcycle and an intelligent capsule robot for gastric endoscopy.

Yet the value of design is not confined to high-end products. It can also transform the most ordinary household items, making them more functional and distinctive.

At the stand of Guangdong-based brand Eko, a range of stainless steel rubbish bins showed how thoughtful design can elevate an everyday household item. One model, equipped with an automatic sensor, caught the attention of many buyers.

"The company pays attention to details as small as the angle of a corner and the curve of a lid," said Pan Libin, a representative.

"Thoughtful design can expand a product's uses," Pan added. "A rubbish bin can fit into different settings, from living rooms and kitchens to bathrooms and bedrooms. We can tailor designs to different needs in terms of size, shape, color and available space."

Eko began as an original equipment manufacturer, making products for other companies. In 2007, it started developing its own brand, betting that design could give it a more distinctive place in the market. One of its products became a Red Dot winner this year, adding international recognition to its effort.