How It's Made

The programme investigates where materials originate and how manufacturing processes have developed over the years, tracing changes in sourcing and production techniques. It showcases examples including Chinese‑style furniture, electrical switches, Thai fish sauce and cappers, covering home décor, electronics, culinary products and packaging.

The programme titled Chinese Style Furniture/Electrical Switches/Thai Fish Sauce/Cappers is presented as an episode‑length feature. It falls within the broader category of programme formats and is listed under the episode genre. In this installment the focus is on tracing the origins of the raw materials used in everyday objects and on outlining how the associated manufacturing techniques have evolved through the years. The narrative centres on four distinct subjects – Chinese‑style furniture, electrical switches, Thai fish sauce and cappers – using each as a case study to illustrate broader changes in production methods. The episode breaks down each of these items in turn, showing how the source materials for Chinese‑style furniture have shifted, how the design and fabrication of electrical switches have progressed, how the preparation of Thai fish sauce has been refined, and how cappers are now produced compared with earlier practices. By juxtaposing these examples, the programme highlights the parallel developments in material sourcing and industrial processes. Overall, the episode provides a concise overview of material provenance and the historical development of manufacturing, using the four highlighted products as representative examples of how traditional crafts and modern techniques intersect.