With manufacturing secrets potentially compromised, what innovative strategies will define the next era for brands in the global market? We'll explore Petite Lumiere's approach.

It appears we have a manufacturing war on our hands. Trump's tariffs have come down hard on Chinese businesses exporting goods to the US, while Chinese automation manufacturers have hit back by exposing the apparent automation manufacturing secrets of luxury brands. Videos claiming that products which are made elsewhere are actually made in China before being shipped to countries like Italy to undergo final alterations. The videos have threatened to derail the future of luxury fashion, so what's next for the automation manufacturing world?

Currently, the jury is out on whether or not these videos are telling the truth or not. But one thing they have done regardless, is call for a more transparent automation manufacturing process. Consumers deserve to know exactly where their goods come from and how they're made.

Despite almost every industry being enhanced by technology, there appears to still be some room for improvement in the automation manufacturing world. Consider the clothes you are wearing right now: do you have any way of verifying where they were made other than the label inside? Can you check online to see the journey of the product? Can you be 100% sure that they were made in factories implementing strong, ethical standards?

It would be great to see leading brands put more of their R&D budget into this area. The arrival of blockchain technology means we could certainly be heading in the direction of digital product passports and NFTs to verify products.

Until we get there, it may open the door for a new era of luxury. Petite Lumiere is a great example of a luxurious, lesser-known brand that sells premium products. Consumers are growing more trusting of brands like this going forward, especially if they can showcase the transparency of their manufacturing processes in light of the recent accusations thrown at more expensive competitors. Brands like this are more likely to be a success after China's secrets have been revealed.