Much Ado About Elephant Pants in Thailand

[webfact]

 

Over the past several days various Thai politicians and government officials have made headlines, at least on Thai language news, with consistent updates on what they call a pressing issue-Elephant pants.

Specifically, their concerns have been around illegal imports of the elephant pants from China and how Thai officials feel the prices are undercutting those of Thai made elephant pants.

 

Thailand considers elephant pants, commonly seen on tourists and especially backpackers, as a ‘soft power” and fashion symbol for the country. Well, at least some Thai officials do, not everyone is fond of the elephant pants or believe they are particularly fashionable according to recent conflicting and unconfirmed reports from Thailand’s Soft Power Fashion Committee.

 

Indeed, some netizens have debated if the elephant pants can even be considered a true soft power at all.

 

By Adam Judd

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-07

 

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[retarius]

I'm not sure the confrontation is worth the profits. Thais love a gimmick, which is why political strategy is about gimmicks like the digital wallet and land bridges not about really driving the Thai economy forward. What profit is there on a 200baht pair of pants. If Thais were smart they would be hooking up with LMVH and making these a must have in the wardrobe for fashion conscious people and then leveraging that into $4000 handbags and the like. 

[jacko45k]

Heavens name shoot me if senility makes me wear a pair of those!

[mikebell]

They should be compulsory for the vast majority of farang women. 

I am only worrying about the effect of sun on their sensitive pale skin.

[webfact]

Trunk trouble: Illegal elephant pants imports surge sparks probe
by Top Top

 

Picture courtesy of Stay in Thailand

 

A surge of illegal imports of Thai elephant pants from China and neighbouring countries led to an official investigation on February 5. Phumtham Wechayachai, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, directed the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) to look into this matter.

 

These infringing items were spotted at various tourist hotspots, being sold at prices significantly lower than the original Thai-made products.

 

Thai elephant pants, along with other unique Thai designs such as the Korat Cat, are recently registered copyrights protected under Thai intellectual property laws, as confirmed by DIP officials. These distinctive garments have become widely popular, with Thai elephant pants even making it to the top trending list on a global platform, Twitter.

 

However, this popularity has also brought an unwelcome spotlight on the product. A substantial influx of counterfeit elephant pants has been noted, originating from China and other nearby countries. These knock-offs, sold at a fraction of the price of the authentic items, have caused a stir on social media, leading to the ensuing controversy.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-07

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[Geoffggi]

All this fuss about a tacky pair of pants is laughable 

[Antiparovian]

All tourists wearing these things deserve immediate deportation.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

7 minutes ago, Antiparovian said:

All tourists wearing these things deserve immediate deportation.

I'm hoping that was sarcasm??

[Sydebolle]

The "copyright infringement" of a unproven Thai design - which makes everyone laughing - comes from the same sources not caring a bit about the tons of Rolex copies and the likes sold to tourists by the truckload. 

I would have bought such legwear long time ago, if it would be available in neutral pastel colour, i.e. without design. Maybe I am not the only one; many people around me think the same. 

[Gandtee]

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

All this fuss about a tacky pair of pants is laughable 

MPs are up in arms about imported Elephant pants. No wonder a team of fashion experts resigned after the tourism ministry announced a competition to see see how many pairs of elephant pants one could put on in a couple of minutes. What about the thousands of tons of illegally imported pork and chickens feet? Maybe that's too close to home for those MPs.

Edited February 7 by Gandtee

[142857]

Country of Origin rules should help this. But really, the issue is also about the efficiency of Thai manufacturers. They do not need protection, labour costs here are no more than in major Chinese production areas. Thai manufacturers have become "fat and happy"!! Wake up Thailand, manufacturers get savvy, and government insisting on rules of origin..... If you coddle Thai manufacturers now, they will end up like Brit manufacturers... non existent. 

Edited February 7 by 142857
spelling mistake

[klauskunkel]

China: OK, OK, keep your Elephant Pants, we make Panda Pants from now on. Let's see whose power is softer...

[BigStar]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

comes from the same sources not caring a bit about the tons of Rolex copies and the likes sold to tourists by the truckload.

 

But do you see any elephants on those Rolex watches?

[BigStar]

3 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

All this fuss about a tacky pair of pants is laughable 

 

Page views, my man. Milking them here for all they're worth.

[thesetat2013]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Over the past several days various Thai politicians and government officials have made headlines, at least on Thai language news, with consistent updates on what they call a pressing issue-Elephant pants.

Specifically, their concerns have been around illegal imports of the elephant pants from China and how Thai officials feel the prices are undercutting those of Thai made elephant pants.

 

Thailand considers elephant pants, commonly seen on tourists and especially backpackers, as a ‘soft power” and fashion symbol for the country. Well, at least some Thai officials do, not everyone is fond of the elephant pants or believe they are particularly fashionable according to recent conflicting and unconfirmed reports from Thailand’s Soft Power Fashion Committee.

 

Indeed, some netizens have debated if the elephant pants can even be considered a true soft power at all.

 

By Adam Judd

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-07

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

This part really got me laughing. 

However, increasing concerns around low-quality non Thai knockoffs flooding the market have prompted the Thai government to take action. 

how can it be lower quality compared to Thai being it is the lowest quality in market? Every time I have bought Thai quality they come apart after only a few times wearing it. Surely Non-Thai quality can not be worse

Edited February 7 by thesetat2013
Typo

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Over the past several days various Thai politicians and government officials have made headlines, at least on Thai language news, with consistent updates on what they call a pressing issue-Elephant pants.

What's the issue?

China make them cheaper than Thailand, they export them to Thais who seem happy to pay the price, add a mark-up and sell them??

[Jonathan Swift]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Heavens name shoot me if senility makes me wear a pair of those!

Agreed. It comes across to me as a phony attempt by silly foreigners to look like they're part of a culture that doesn't belong to them. I understand the sentiment of wanting to belong and be accepted here, but I manage that without looking silly. 

[NoDisplayName]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Over the past several days various Thai politicians and government officials have made headlines, at least on Thai language news, with consistent updates on what they call a pressing issue-Elephant pants.

 

 

Relax! 

Don't get your elephant pants in a wad.

 

What will you do when the Chinese reclaim THEIR cultural heritage?

 

Dated to at least 3,200 years old, the Turfan Man’s trousers are believed to be the oldest pair of trousers yet discovered

 

 

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pants-oldest-ancient-horseman-asia-culture-origin

[Jonathan Swift]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

What's the issue?

China make them cheaper than Thailand, they export them to Thais who seem happy to pay the price, add a mark-up and sell them??

Right. Exactly. The Thai vendors get to make their money on them so nobody really loses. Outsourcing manufacturing to China is the way of the world now, literally everywhere. So truth be told China is helping fuel the Thai economy by making these. On the other hand there is really no shortage of affordable Thai manufactured products, I have a whole closet full of those colorful shiny Thai silk shirts. 

Edited February 7 by Jonathan Swift

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

The "copyright infringement" of a unproven Thai design - which makes everyone laughing - comes from the same sources not caring a bit about the tons of Rolex copies and the likes sold to tourists by the truckload. 

But they do care about illegal counterfeit Rolex watches, that's why they are illegal, usually not on display except as pictures and sellers are arrested when found and their products destroyed.

[khunjeff]

In what sense are these "illegal" imports, when I believe Thailand and China have a free trade agreement? And in what sense are they "knock-offs", when there is no original, "legal" design to copy? And just how was a claim to copyright filed, when there is almost certainly no known "author" of the original print, and there are hundreds of variant fabric designs?

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Gandtee said:

What about the thousands of tons of illegally imported pork

You mean that illegal pork that has been the subject of highly publicised raids, searches, confiscation and arrests?

[Cabradelmar]

What's even more ridiculous is Thailand thinks elephant's are part of their "soft power" (which is the latest gimmick Thais are clamoring over). You are not wielding any soft-power related to fashion (say as does France) with elephant pants 🤣

[Liverpool Lou]

20 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

What's the issue?

IP infringement.

[Ryan1982]

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

They should be compulsory for the vast majority of farang women. 

I am only worrying about the effect of sun on their sensitive pale skin.

 

Lol.. you have a seriously ill fantasy to see only farang woman in elephant pants

Edited February 7 by Ryan1982

[Stocky]

I thought the PM had said this was all fair goes, and Thai traders just needed to up their game?

 

Quote

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that the dumping of cheap Chinese-made elephant pants in the Thai market is a normal and opportunistic trade practice that should serve a lesson for Thai businesses to work faster to protect their interests.

 

 

[Mr Dome]

I have yet to see an adult look good in them and I am flummoxed why people actually use them as street wear.

Do they think it will get them 10% off all purchases? 🤔

[Liverpool Lou]

12 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

In what sense are these "illegal" imports, when I believe Thailand and China have a free trade agreement? And in what sense are they "knock-offs", when there is no original, "legal" design to copy? And just how was a claim to copyright filed, when there is almost certainly no known "author" of the original print, and there are hundreds of variant fabric designs?

"In what sense are these "illegal" imports".

Illegal in terms of protected IP rights, FTAs are irrelevant. The point is that they do benefit from copyright legislation according to the reports.

[hotchilli]

15 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

IP infringement.

Boo Hoo... what goes around comes around.. Thailand doesn't give a rats about IP infringement, until it affects them

[khunjeff]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"In what sense are these "illegal" imports".

Illegal in terms of protected IP rights, FTAs are irrelevant. The point is that they do benefit from copyright legislation according to the reports.

 

Thai authorities keep saying that they have registered copyright for elephant pants, but with no explanation of exactly who claims the rights and over exactly which intellectual property - the concept of "loose trousers with fabric designs involving elephants" is not one that could be registered in any country that I'm aware of, and a government can't claim rights for something that it didn't create by itself or through its employees.

 

They also state that this supposed registration was just done within the last week or so, which certainly calls into question how imports prior to that registration could have been "illegal".