The Canton Fair trade exposition, 67 years on, still draws an American crowd
- Founded in 1957, the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou has weathered embargoes, trade wars and pandemics, with supporters saying it remains essential
After dedicating 13 years to studying and selling paint brushes, Deirdra Silver launched her own business in 1991 from the basement of her New Jersey home. Her mission was clear: to introduce the world’s finest art tools to the American market.
Today, she proudly notes that her brushes have been used by notable artists who have captured the likenesses of distinguished figures, including US presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Over the years, Silver has expanded her market beyond the US, selling paint brushes to artists around the world.
During a recent sunlit afternoon in downtown Manhattan, Silver reflected on the role the Canton Fair, China’s largest and longest-running trade show, had played in propelling her modest beginnings into a global business.
When she started attending in 2002 she recalled pondering, “Where else I can go to get these products at these prices? If I go to Europe, everything is going to be more expensive”. She found manufacturers who could make high-quality items at the specifications she required for her business, Silver Brush Ltd.
