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I can’t finish my Travel Diary without dedicating some time to talking about the wonderful people we met who work at the Daniel Alain factory. Their expertise and experience allow our brand to consistently produce world-class products, but their hospitality, generosity, and genuine warmth made me feel proud to be a part of the Daniel Alain family.
You may be like me and assume that factory work is fairly soulless, with a long assembly line of nameless, faceless people contributing mechanically to a finished product. You may imagine a cold environment that lacks a heart or personal touch, or one that prioritizes speed and quantity over craftsmanship and pride.
However, stepping into the factory in Weihai changed my perception completely. Instead of an impersonal production floor, there was a community brimming with skill, pride, and camaraderie. From handling the ponytails of hair with care and reverence to manipulating a ventilation needle with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it movement that only years of experience can produce, or friends sharing a laugh over a lunch tray and good food in the cafeteria, the factory environment was vibrant and supportive.
Most of the workers come from rural farming backgrounds and many of them have had limited schooling. When I naively and rather thoughtlessly asked the factory manager if some of the bright-eyed, conscientious workers would rather work in an office than a factory, I was politely put in my place and reminded that many of the women had only 2 or 3 years of elementary school education and wouldn’t suit office work.
China has changed a lot over the last 20 years. When these women were teenagers, there was no nationalized or standardized education system. School children in rural areas were not afforded the same opportunities to learn as children in major cities, and farming families needed their help to work the land. Children eventually grew up and some left the countryside for the city to seek employment and factory work that would hopefully give them a more comfortable way of life than farming.
There are a few men who work in the factory (there’s even one husband and wife team) but the overwhelming majority of the workforce is made up of women; wives, mothers, daughters... Women who have found a talent in the art of wig-making and are able to support themselves, and their families, in a safe, comfortable environment - something they would not have had in farming or working in other factories in the city.
Every single worker in the Daniel Alain factory owns their own home in the city.
The factory manager told me several times that once people land a job here they never want to leave. And the benefits of holding on to good workers and treating them well means the brand has an experienced and committed team who is able to produce consistent, high-quality work.
Mrs Li came to work at the Daniel Alain factory after working in a garment factory where she sewed general clothing items. She was placed in the wig cap section and had to learn to hand stitch and machine sew much smaller pieces of fabric than she was used to, and lots of intricate, curved lines.
“It took me a long time to learn how to sew wig caps. Sewing such small pieces of fabric with neat stitches was really tough. Many people who try to do it give up and go back to sewing garments, but I believed I could do it. After a lot of practice, I could finish a topper independently. Eventually I was able to sew an entire wig cap. It takes about 3 hours to sew one wig cap, and when it’s finished, I check the measurements, the contours, and the curves. I don’t stop until everything is perfect.”
Ventilation is an intricate skill to master, but it’s essential that the brand invests in talented people who are able to undertake such focused work. It takes about 1 year to fully master the skills needed to be able to ventilate a wig independently.
Ventilator, Mrs Liu describes her work as “very focused. I need to be able to see every hole in the lace and every strand of hair clearly. I also need to keep my fingers working smoothly with the ventilation needle. I need to twist the needle perfectly to make a tight knot, and pay close attention to the direction of the hair. It’s very important to have a clear mind.”
Another ventilator, Mrs Han, came to work at the Daniel Alain factory 17 years ago, after being recommended by a friend. She had been looking for a new job at the time and had heard good things about the working environment, the generous salaries, and the company culture at Daniel Alain. Though she enjoys the benefits of the company bus that brings her to work every day and home every night, it might be the birthday cake that has kept her here so long.
“Every birthday, the chefs will prepare noodles for lunch and make us a fresh cake to wish us good health and a long life. At the end of the day, we take the cake home to share with our families.”
One of the factory’s favorite superstar colorists, Mrs Zhang has been working at Daniel Alain for 25 years when the Weihai labor bureau visited her small town in the countryside to hire workers and she was immediately attracted to the beautiful silky blonde hair she saw on the advertisement.
“As a little girl, I always loved playing with styles and would help other girls braid their hair. When I saw the job advertised, I didn’t hesitate to apply and now I’ve been with the company for 25 years!”
When I asked her about what she enjoys most about working at Daniel Alain, Mrs Zhang said with a genuine smile, “It makes me so happy to hear feedback from our customers about how our products have helped them to get their lives back on track and regain their confidence. Hearing that makes all the hard work worth the effort. Every time I think about how our customers look wearing our products, I tell myself we must do even better.”
This is the final chapter of my Daniel Alain factory visit travel journal. What started as a visit to see the wig manufacturing process turned into a journey of discovering a special bond between the artisans and the lives they touch. I’ve been privileged to see lives transformed at both ends of this journey - from the factory workers who are able to provide a comfortable life for their families by working in a safe, healthy factory environment, to our customers whose lives are renewed with confidence and a restored sense of self through wearing our wigs and toppers.
Every wig and topper is crafted with extraordinary skill and genuine care. I left Weihai with a deep sense of pride and gratitude, knowing that Daniel Alain’s commitment to quality shines through in our dedication to our customers, our products, and the people who make it all possible.
See the Craftsmanship Come to Life
Hearing about the incredible stories and skills of the people who create our wigs and toppers is inspiring—but seeing them in action is truly unforgettable. Throughout my visit to the Daniel Alain factory, we captured the artistry, passion, and care that go into every single piece on video.
Now, you can experience it too. From the delicate hand-ventilation process to the intricate stitching of wig caps and the skilled workers who make it all possible, our factory video series brings their stories to life.