This roadsign displaying the local product reminds visitors that they have arrived in "sock city"-Shetou in Changhua County. (Chuang Kung-ju)

Taiwan is often thought of as a producer of umbrellas, toys, suitcases and bicycles, but many of these low-tech industries have either moved out or vanished. In fact, the hosiery industry in the township of Shetou may be one of the few family-based industries left in the country. Although making socks is not as close to the soil as growing tea or coffee, it remains one of the treasures of a more traditional Taiwan.

Few people realize that many of the world's socks come from Shetou in the center of Taiwan. At its peak, Shetou's hosiery business earned US$230 million in foreign exchange every year. Since Taiwan joined the WTO, the industry has fallen on bad times, but the people of Shetou are still enthusiastically developing their products to compete with newcomers on the sock scene.

When visitors arrive at Shetou in Changhua County, they are greeted by roadsigns proudly displaying the local product, and reminding them that they have arrived in "sock city."

Walking along the streets of the business district, however, there is little obvious sign of industry, as the main production is in family factories in traditional courtyard houses, terraces or low-roofed houses, all hidden away in the little back streets and alleyways.