Hans Christian Andersen in China
Tuesday, 5. August 2008, 11:04:23
A Chinese clothing company specialising in H.C. Andersen merchandise has become a commercial success since it began three years ago.
The merchandise featuring logos and images of the famous Danish writer brings in a turnover of 60 million Chinese yuan, or 5.438 million Euros a year.
120 specialist shops sell H.C. Andersen clothing today, and they hope to increase it to 300 in China and open their first stores in Europe by next year.
Company director Chen Song Ru explains that the company is not just driven by its commercial success but also by an ethical policy: Parents who buy the clothes can get 10 percent of the purchase price refunded if they deliver the clothes back to the shop when they become too small for their children. The firm then donates the clothes to poor children and orphans, with a greeting from their former owner.
I tried to find some images of the H. C. Andersen clothes, but I haven't been able to. It makes me wonder, if this is the story of the Emperor's new clothes once again.
I also read that H. C. Andersen has been given a Chinese name – An Tu Sheng – and his famed story of the little matchstick girl has been edited to avoid mention of the little girl freezing to death on a New Year's morning.
Come on! Don't change the fairy tales. That's not right!
The merchandise featuring logos and images of the famous Danish writer brings in a turnover of 60 million Chinese yuan, or 5.438 million Euros a year.
120 specialist shops sell H.C. Andersen clothing today, and they hope to increase it to 300 in China and open their first stores in Europe by next year.
Company director Chen Song Ru explains that the company is not just driven by its commercial success but also by an ethical policy: Parents who buy the clothes can get 10 percent of the purchase price refunded if they deliver the clothes back to the shop when they become too small for their children. The firm then donates the clothes to poor children and orphans, with a greeting from their former owner.
I tried to find some images of the H. C. Andersen clothes, but I haven't been able to. It makes me wonder, if this is the story of the Emperor's new clothes once again.
I also read that H. C. Andersen has been given a Chinese name – An Tu Sheng – and his famed story of the little matchstick girl has been edited to avoid mention of the little girl freezing to death on a New Year's morning.
Come on! Don't change the fairy tales. That's not right!
(40%)
WIDGETIZE
Cois # 5. August 2008, 11:40
attilasoul # 5. August 2008, 11:46
Cois # 5. August 2008, 21:22
Guess I'm just too cynical about human behaviour..
Aprilsnow # 8. August 2008, 08:29
I can't keep up with all the comments, you are quick!
attilasoul # 8. August 2008, 09:32
And yes, they talk about the ceremony all the time on the radio, and I say that Google made a OL-banner on their search page.
rose-marie # 30. August 2008, 17:01
I love the idea of parents returning outgrown clothes
attilasoul # 30. August 2008, 17:02
rose-marie # 30. August 2008, 17:21
attilasoul # 30. August 2008, 17:47