The textile wholesale store of the Pyongyang municipal wholesale trade management office has a cotton-producing workteam which turns out quilts and other consumer goods using cloth scraps collected from knitting and textile mills and garment factories.
At present, it annually produces scores of kinds of consumer goods with the scraps, including over 40 tons of cotton, tens of thousands of quilts, more than 10 000 slates and tens of thousands of metres of ropes.
It is not a special production unit but the small wholesale store is achieving unbelievable results. The secret of success is that the store regards recycling as a sure way to develop it and steadily pushes ahead with recycling.
When Kwon Won Man suggested taking up recycling just after being appointed director of the store over 10 years ago, many of its employees were sceptical about the idea.
But when they succeeded in producing cotton and quilts after overcoming heaps of trials and difficulties, employees raised a shout of joy.
Kwon, however, didn’t rest on his laurels, but set a goal of using all the cotton waste from the production process.
He once looked round the slate production process of other unit on his business trip, when he learned that it was relying on import for some raw materials.
So he acquainted himself with the mixing ratio of the materials for slate before returning to his store, and became convinced that cotton waste can be used for making quality slates after a constant search and intense speculation.
Afterwards, a slate production base was built and its production using cotton waste was put on a regular basis.
The store proceeded to increase the variety of consumer goods including shoulder pads, insoles, sportswear and children’s wear and came to produce quality ropes of different sizes and even soundproof and lagging materials some years later.
Its Kumjandi-brand products were highly appreciated at national commodity and consumer goods exhibitions.
More From Pyongyang Times
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 8 denounced European countries for their attitud
March 14, 2026
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 8 denounced European countries for their attitud
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of his
March 14, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of his
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
March 14, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House in Pyongyang on March 12 in commemoration of the
March 14, 2026
A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House in Pyongyang on March 12 in commemoration of the
Officials and members of the women's union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to
March 14, 2026
Officials and members of the women's union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to
The World Meteorological Organization, in a report issued in January, noted that 2025 was recorded as one of the hottest years
March 13, 2026
The World Meteorological Organization, in a report issued in January, noted that 2025 was recorded as one of the hottest years
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis in an interview with a journalist of the
March 13, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis in an interview with a journalist of the
The Mexican president stressed the need to enhance the role of women in nation building as she addressed an event held on the occa
March 13, 2026
The Mexican president stressed the need to enhance the role of women in nation building as she addressed an event held on the occa
The 39th Pyongyang Municipal Festival of Science and Technology opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on March 11 under
March 13, 2026
The 39th Pyongyang Municipal Festival of Science and Technology opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on March 11 under
Many students in the final year of senior middle schools in North Hwanghae Province volunteered for military service in the
March 13, 2026
Many students in the final year of senior middle schools in North Hwanghae Province volunteered for military service in the
The coal-mining industry sector is waging a vigorous struggle for increased production. Coal production is going up day by day
March 13, 2026
The coal-mining industry sector is waging a vigorous struggle for increased production. Coal production is going up day by day
There was a solemn ceremony at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the General Staff of the revolution, in
March 13, 2026
There was a solemn ceremony at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the General Staff of the revolution, in
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 6 gave Finland a warning as to its announcement
March 12, 2026
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 6 gave Finland a warning as to its announcement
The 25th Winter Paralympics opened in Italy on March 6. At the opening ceremony held on the theme of “Active life”, the
March 12, 2026
The 25th Winter Paralympics opened in Italy on March 6. At the opening ceremony held on the theme of “Active life”, the
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
March 12, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
March 12, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
True to original ambition Jong Song Hui, who has been chosen as one of the top 10 coaches of the DPRK for the second time, is a
March 12, 2026
True to original ambition Jong Song Hui, who has been chosen as one of the top 10 coaches of the DPRK for the second time, is a
Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic
March 11, 2026
Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the
March 11, 2026
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners
March 11, 2026
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners
More Articles
