Much Ado About Elephant Pants in Thailand

[wombat]

24 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

"soft power"

I believe a Pattaya mama turned influencer was the one who came up with this

[ThaiFelix]

So copying is another trade reserved for Thais only?

[818Pilot]

Worried about elephant pants but selling knock off brand name clothing, watches, shoes, purses etc is perfectly fine and doesn’t need to be looked into? 

[khunpeer]

6 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.

 

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they import these pants from China, because if 'Made in Tland' it would be way to expensive....

the over-sensitivity on these kind of matters is stunning!

[alien365]

48 minutes ago, Mr Dome said:

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? 🤔

I could be wrong, but I thought people buy them as they are light and dry easily. They also allow you to stay relatively cool while covering your skin for the temples.  The uni students in my area wear them and look very nice. I could never wear them though as I'd look a tit.

Edited February 7 by alien365

[ChaiyaTH]

6 hours ago, retarius said:

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. 

There would be about 160-170 baht profit margin on a 200 baht pair of pants. There is also no shortage of rich Thais that buy the expensive brands.

Edited February 7 by ChaiyaTH

[sherwood]

I quite like them but prefer a nice cotton sarong around the house.

 

Also elephants are not exclusive to Thailand so I think I might start a little print business depicting the African variety and see how that pans out.

 

How many people would actually know the difference.

 

Bah, just another convoluted nationalistic face saving beat up.

 

 

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

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.

I never really understood the fuss about counterfeit goods to be honest, especially the expensive stuff like rolex watches,   Those in the market for a genuine Rolex would never settle for a fake from a  market, and if buying from a reputable outlet are unlikely to be conned into buying a fake.   Likewise those looking to buy a cheap fake would never consider buying a genuine one.      So I don't see that the existence of fake Rolex watches has any effect on the sale of the genuine item at all

             Personally I wouldn't waste my money on either a fake or a genuine Rolex, plenty of perfectly good watches around at a fraction of the price. I feel pretty much the same regarding any over priced branded luxury items

[Sig]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai officials feel the prices are undercutting those of Thai made elephant pants.

Meanwhile... Chinese products in virtually every industry under the sun are undercutting prices of Thai made ones.... But, oh no!!! ELEPHANT PANTS!! OMG! We MUST stop it! wtf?????? soft power? 🤣

[alex8912]

2 hours ago, 142857 said:

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. 

Yes. I have never seen made in England / Great Britain 🇬🇧 on any clothes in my entire life. 
 

 

[ChicagoExpat]

I see a lot of Thais who wear elephant pants too.  They're comfy, breathe well, and hide stains.  Not just for backpackers!

[alex8912]

13 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

I never really understood the fuss about counterfeit goods to be honest, especially the expensive stuff like rolex watches,   Those in the market for a genuine Rolex would never settle for a fake from a  market, and if buying from a reputable outlet are unlikely to be conned into buying a fake.   Likewise those looking to buy a cheap fake would never consider buying a genuine one.      So I don't see that the existence of fake Rolex watches has any effect on the sale of the genuine item at all

             Personally I wouldn't waste my money on either a fake or a genuine Rolex, plenty of perfectly good watches around at a fraction of the price. I feel pretty much the same regarding any over priced branded luxury items

Your point is somewhat understandable by some. But it opens a Pandora's box in reality. But your comment on Rolex itself is pretty lame. Good for you. My only Rolex a Pepsi sub mariner from 1989 is worth 15k now. Purchased used 25 years ago for waaaaY LESS. "Perfectly good watch comment is truly priceless!"

Edited February 7 by alex8912

[Straight8]

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

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

Most ridiculous-looking piece of apparel i have seen in a long time.

 

I cringe when I see all these tourist in them at the airport

 

[crazykopite]

These clowns should be in a circus not in government 

[Iron Tongue]

36 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Yes. I have never seen made in England / Great Britain 🇬🇧 on any clothes in my entire life. 
 

 

Really?

As I sit with my Dr Martens.  And since it has been so rainy recently, I have pulled-out my beloved Barbour waxed coat.  It sits next to some of my Harris Tweeds in the "winter" closet. 

I used to like Burberry, but not as much since the chavs started favoring them.

[Shocked farang]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

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. 

Actually, it ends up doing exactly the opposite as Thais immediately identify the farang wearing the elephant pants as a "cheap charlie" LOL

[Shocked farang]

57 minutes ago, Sig said:

Meanwhile... Chinese products in virtually every industry under the sun are undercutting prices of Thai made ones.... But, oh no!!! ELEPHANT PANTS!! OMG! We MUST stop it! wtf?????? soft power? 🤣

Yes!! The soft power of Khao San Rd after it was popularized by Leonardo di Caprio on the movie The beach!!

[harrycallahan]

I thought elephant pants was when you pull your pockets out and let your trunk hang out. 

[Jack Hammer]

4 hours 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. 

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. 

 “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.”

Name one person

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

A substantial influx of counterfeit elephant pants has been noted, originating from China and other nearby countries.

What a load of tosh, it's a fabric print, nothing counterfeit at all. Out of interest where does Thailand source the fabric to make them, does Thailand even make the fabric, or the draw cord and that frilly bobble trim?   

[NoDisplayName]

56 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

Actually, it ends up doing exactly the opposite as Thais immediately identify the farang wearing the elephant pants as a "cheap charlie" LOL

 

Maybe Thais see it differently?

 

A group of us drove over to Tijuana for a weekend, one of the guys bought a cheap sombrero and serape from a tourist stand to wear around town.

 

He was incredibly popular with the locals..........folks all over were pointing and yelling "Aye, Pancho!  Pancho Villa!  You come back to us!"

 

 

 

Edited February 7 by NoDisplayName

[Simon1287]

I do see a very small number of Thai's wearing them now but that is a very recent development indeed.

 

In previous years you would have to have held a Thai down and forcibly put a pair of the things on them and then give them 6 months pay to walk even 100 yards wearing them. If walking past anyone they knew then a years pay would have been needed, for the humiliation.

 

I imagine 99.99% of Thai's still feel the same way now though it may be changing. Slowly.

 

As someone just pointed out in another post, any farang wearing a pair is instantly viewed as a cheap charlie. Actually, much worse than that..

 

Over the years I have tried a pair for a laugh that were intended to be a present for a farang in farangland, on a couple of occasions.

 

Never again, which is a shame as they are actually super things to wear in the Thai climate, but I could see I was instantly transformed from a foreigner with money into something the cat dragged in the eyes of any Thai that saw me. 

 

If you must wear them then stick to backpacker ghettoes. The Thai's there are experts at hiding their disgust, for obvious reasons.

 

Simon

[oldestswinger]

4 hours 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.

Why doesn't the Department of Intellectual Property state the name, nationality, ID card number or juristic person number (as the case may be) and address of the copyright owner?

[Elkski]

Thailand made clothing has been terrible quality in my experience.  

[geisha]

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

I never really understood the fuss about counterfeit goods to be honest, especially the expensive stuff like rolex watches,   Those in the market for a genuine Rolex would never settle for a fake from a  market, and if buying from a reputable outlet are unlikely to be conned into buying a fake.   Likewise those looking to buy a cheap fake would never consider buying a genuine one.      So I don't see that the existence of fake Rolex watches has any effect on the sale of the genuine item at all

             Personally I wouldn't waste my money on either a fake or a genuine Rolex, plenty of perfectly good watches around at a fraction of the price. I feel pretty much the same regarding any over priced branded luxury items

If the roads of fashion were flooded with counterfeit goods, ( some very well copied) the people who do buy expensive bags/ watches/ Chanel / Dior etc would not like it and the market would sink. Imagine buying a popular 5000€ bag and you walk into a restaurant and every girls got the same ?? That’s what fashion is all about, imagine having dozens of Lamborghinis flooding the streets , sales would immediately stop. The fashion industry in France , Italy, US, Uk generates millions of specialist jobs, and a lot of money ,that’s the difference, quality instead of quantity, hard work and craftsmanship goes into these products.  The rubbish that pours out of mostly China, India, some African countries is factory made and often uses child labor and people who earn a pittance. And the badly / mass made products end up in the bin after 6 months and eventually landfill.   Remember the shoe scandal of the people  that bought shoes who ended  up having burnt  feet from illegal chemicals ? 

[Gilligan In Drag]

Thailand must be getting obese, getting their snickers in a snot about fatso pants!

Its simple dumbo, if you don't like it then with a flubbery heave to make your own elephant pants

ya buncha Sponge Bobs! But noooooo, afraid of that, no easy fat bucks in any o'that so ya leave it to the

Chinaman! Its your own fault Tuskar, no peanuts for you!

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

What a load of tosh, it's a fabric print, nothing counterfeit at all. Out of interest where does Thailand source the fabric to make them, does Thailand even make the fabric, or the draw cord and that frilly bobble trim?   

I want to add; does Thailand make ANY fabric.?

[kingstonkid]

The challenge is like anything else in the world.  The Chinese with their "labour" laws are able to create anything they want cheaper than any other country.

 

This about this why do so many THAI brands have their products made outside the country.

 

Imagine if they actually started making shirts and clothes in Thailand.

 

How many people have bought someting tht was a souvenir to their country to see made in china stamped on it.

[twizzian]

As one example in the years of DVD & CD’s, no one cared about the distribution of millions of illegal movie & music copied discs, unless it was a Thai film or artist which would have hurt their economy.

It’s always the hypocrisy.

 

[SABloke]

5 hours ago, Mr Dome said:

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? 🤔

They're the most comfortable long trousers/pants I own. I've never cared too much if they "look good" - they're just extremely comfortable in the heat.