The global wool supply chain is undergoing a profound restructuring. On June 24, the 95th IWTO Congress opened in Dalang Town, Dongguan, Guangdong, gathering industry representatives from over 20 countries and regions. The core topics centered on green transformation, global supply chain coordination, and high-quality development. Hosted by the International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO) and co-organized by the China Wool Textile Association and Dongguan Wool Textile Association, the conference sent multiple signals to the industry.
The Dalang Model: From OEM to Global Supply Chain Hub
Dalang's wool textile industry has evolved over 40 years from simple OEM production into a complete industrial ecosystem covering raw material processing, product design, manufacturing, and trade. Public data shows that Dalang produces over 900 million garments annually, with a total industry chain transaction volume exceeding 72 billion yuan. One in five sweaters worldwide is made in Dalang. This figure reflects China's core position in the global wool supply chain—China has the world's largest wool processing capacity, importing large quantities of raw wool and exporting various wool products. During the conference, Zou Jinchao, a member of the Dalang Party Committee, stated that Dalang has entered a golden period of industrial transformation and upgrading, focusing on technology, culture, and green initiatives. For global buyers, this means Dalang is no longer just a low-cost manufacturing base but is upgrading toward branding and intelligent manufacturing. Qu Hongqi, Vice Chairman of Dongguan Municipal CPPCC, noted that Dalang is the brightest pearl in Dongguan's textile and garment industry, and hosting the conference here affirms the city's manufacturing strength and development potential.
Green Paper Release: Carbon Footprint Standards as a Battle for Discourse
The most notable event of the congress was the global launch of the IWTO Wool Green Paper. This is not a simple industry report but a key tool for the wool industry's transformation. According to the release, only a few enterprises have participated in related projects so far, requiring unified global industry voices and resource investment from companies worldwide. Its core objectives include building a full supply chain traceability data system, linking industry organizations to strengthen policy influence with the EU, and proving wool's low-carbon circular advantages. Dr. Paul Swan stated during the release that the industry's core challenge is that existing data exaggerates wool's negative environmental impact. Younger urban generations, influenced by biased education, generally believe livestock farming has environmental issues, and the industry invests heavily yet struggles to reverse misleading narratives. The Green Paper is just the starting point; the industry must work together to reshape positive narratives and take control of the discourse. Follow-up projects include customizing wool carbon footprint accounting standards by production region, developing wool durability standards, building a natural fiber industry alliance, and launching industry promotion and training programs.
Resilience Amid Trade Protectionism
Yang Zhaohua, Vice President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, noted in his speech that trade protectionism is currently impacting supply chains, but Dalang's industry has shown strong resilience. This assessment directly relates to the global trade environment—the EU is advancing its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and textile sustainability strategy, imposing higher carbon footprint accounting requirements on natural fibers like wool. The Green Paper's release is intended to help the global wool industry make substantive progress in policy coordination, standard setting, and market promotion to address trade barriers. For export enterprises, this signal is critical. Previously, wool product exports relied more on price competition and traditional channels; in the future, carbon footprint traceability and sustainable certification may become entry requirements for European and American markets. IWTO President Klaus Steger emphasized that wool is not only a core material in the global textile supply chain but also carries complex challenges related to trade, politics, and the environment.
From Raw Material to Fashion: Reshaping Industry Value
The congress also featured a special session for the Wool Young Professionals program, where dozens of young representatives introduced themselves. This seemingly simple session points to a deep industry pain point: the wool industry urgently needs to attract young talent, breaking the stereotype of an 'ancient craft' and reshaping it as a leader in sustainable fashion. Jacques Ji, a representative of the Wool Young Professionals program, said the platform helps newcomers cross geographical boundaries, build networks, and realize that wool textiles are not just an ancient skill but a career worth passing down through generations. Meanwhile, Zhuoma, principal of Tibet Zhuofanlin Culture Co., shared practices of a sustainable supply chain for Tibetan wool textiles, leveraging local highland yak down and wool resources to explore an integrated 'platform + workshop + school' model. This shows that the sustainable transformation of the wool industry is multi-dimensional, covering raw material sourcing, processing, branding, and even cultural heritage.