TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Shine Beam is using digital tools to punch above its weight and redefine how Taiwan’s manufacturing adapts in the AI era.
Based behind Tunghai University in Taichung, the clothing brand has grown from a small supplier of gloves and scarves into a Made-in-Taiwan (MIT) success story, per CNA. Founded by outdoor enthusiast Chen Yung-lin (陳詠霖) and his daughter Chen Ying-cheng (陳盈呈), the company’s breakthrough came from a chance scarf order.
Back then, a lingerie company’s off-season demand forced Shine Beam to work directly with factories. The result was the realization that the MIT logo could mean more than just origin. Despite pushback from some factories, the Chens charged ahead with certification, calling it a promise to their customers and themselves.
The company soon launched its Jialishi thermal wear brand, combining hiker-tested ideas with innovative fabrics. Moisture-wicking underwear designed for high-altitude trekking ended up serving Japan’s eldercare market and even Ukrainian frontline troops.
Shine Beam’s products, from blankets to sleeping bags, are shaped by feedback and infused with local identity. Its designs feature Formosan wildlife like black bears and salmon in the shape of Taiwan. “We don’t follow trends,” said Chen Ying-cheng. “We tell stories of Taiwanese culture and sustainability.”
Government support for digital upgrades helped Shine Beam slash sample production time from two weeks to one day. By adopting AI and in-house fabric printers, the company now handles small-batch orders with rapid turnaround.
Designers use generative AI to mock up patterns and decode client requests. What once took hours of back-and-forth work, like nailing down a shade of blue, can now be solved with instant image simulations.
Despite its success, the company still lacks formal factory space. Shine Beam hopes the government will create affordable creative hubs to help micro-makers scale and keep Taiwan’s manufacturing alive in the AI age.
