One out of every five woolen sweaters globally is made in Dalang, a small town in Guangdong with a population under one million. Its annual garment output exceeds 900 million pieces, with the entire industrial chain's trade value surpassing 72 billion yuan. On June 24, the 95th International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO) Congress opened here, drawing delegates from over 20 countries. The core agenda: who defines the standards and holds the narrative power in wool's green transformation?
Green Paper Launch: Countering 'Carbon Bias'
The congress's highlight was the global launch of the IWTO Wool Green Paper. This document serves as a strategic defense weapon against environmental accusations. Project lead Francesco Botto noted that only a few companies currently participate in carbon footprint accounting, and the industry urgently needs a unified traceability data system to prove wool's low-carbon, circular advantages as a natural fiber. Dr. Paul Swan added that existing public data deliberately exaggerates wool's negative environmental impact, misleading urban youth into viewing animal husbandry as an environmental burden. The Green Paper aims to scientifically reshape wool's environmental narrative and correct public misconceptions.
This signals that the global wool industry is no longer passively responding to environmental discourse but proactively building its own quantifiable, traceable green standards. For China, the world's largest wool processor, this shift is critical—whoever controls the standards controls market access.
The Dalang Model: From OEM to Rule-Maker
Dalang's wool knitting industry began with OEM processing forty years ago and now boasts a complete ecosystem from raw material processing, design, to trade. Party Secretary Dong Tie emphasized the town's push for smart, green, and brand-oriented transformation. Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, described Dalang as a vivid microcosm of China's textile integration into global markets.
Notably, the congress agenda shifted from 'capacity matching' to 'rule co-building.' Deng Xiaoding from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed four directions: standards as a common language, innovation for digital transformation, greenness to highlight natural fiber value, and openness for global cooperation. This outlines a roadmap for China's wool industry to evolve from a manufacturing hub into a standard-setter.
Youth and Legacy: A Relay of People
The congress featured a dedicated 'Young Wool' session, where dozens of young professionals from various countries introduced themselves. Representative Jacques Ji stated the program aims to help newcomers build cross-border networks and realize that wool is not just an ancient craft but a legacy worth passing down.
This seemingly soft segment addresses a hard reality: the global wool sector faces severe workforce aging. Without attracting and retaining young talent, any green transformation or standard upgrade remains theoretical. Dalang's ability to sustain talent appeal will determine its competitiveness in the next two decades.