Glen, that is a great question. Since we have several members from China, why not send them on a fact finding tour? Can't be that difficult, really. And who knows what else they'll find? Like those few hundred Heljestrands we found in Eskilstuna. Glorious fun.
How do we know, indeed? Tell you what: They may actually be using the same process. But if they do, they are doing it wrong, cf
this post.
The reality is much simpler: The Chinese do not aim for the high quality market. They never have. They go for mass production, and low- to mid-end markets.* First when they flooded the market with black badger paint brushes, then with badger cosmetic brushes. That is why so few traditional brush makers have survived. There is no market for high quality paint or cosmetic brushes (I'm talking about the consumer segment, not (make-up) artists). Viktoria make decent shaving brushes, but as you can see, they use industrial machinery to speed up the production process. Which is not what high quality brush makers do. Quality has its price when it comes to manufactured products, I'm sorry.
To tell you the truth, though, I find it remarkable that, in this forum, on the one hand craftsmanship is a virtue that is extolled, but on the other, people are more than happy to accept inferior goods just because they're cheap. And Chinese knots
are inferior, it's as simple as that. They are also cheap. But if you want cheap and serviceable shaving stuff from China, get a Gold Dollar with a Frank Shaving** brush. They'll work. Only, they're not what we're here for, are they?
Just saying
Have fun
Robin
* Yes, I know that that doesn't apply to
all their ICT equipment and similar high tech stuff.
** I am actually doing FS brushes a big injustice here. A friend of mine is bringing a few over from China, because I like them, as they are cheap yet
very good - for their price which is laughable.