Elephant pants have Thailand debating soft power and copyrights

70% of country's elephant-patterned trousers found to be made in China

20240215 elephant pants

While Thai-made elephant pants cost about $2.80, Chinese knockoffs can be had for half that. (NIKKEI montage/Source photos by Getty and Kosuke Inoue) 

KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writer

BANGKOK -- Thailand's bid to turn pants with elephant patterns printed on them into a tourist sensation has sparked a heated debate among Thais, who wonder whether the billowy garments can be called part of Thailand's unique culture even if 70% of the things being sold in the country are made in China.

The influx of cheap Chinese-made elephant pants has raised concerns about their impact on Thailand's tourism industry, provoking discussions on copyright protection.

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