On June 24, 2024, Dalang Town in Dongguan, Guangdong, hosted a rare convergence of the 23rd 'Knitting Fair', the 10th Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference, and the 95th International Wool Textile Organization Congress. This 'three-in-one' event attracted over 30,000 professional visitors globally, signaling a comprehensive shift of China's wool industry from scale advantages to technological, branding, and standard-setting leadership.
The Data Behind the Industry
Dalang's wool knitting industry chain has an annual transaction value exceeding 72 billion yuan, with one out of every five sweaters worldwide produced here. This achievement is built on over 40 years of accumulated industrial ecology, covering everything from yarn R&D and fabric weaving to garment production and equipment manufacturing. Dalang now boasts approximately 150,000 computerized knitting machines, including nearly 10,000 fully-fashioned seamless units. Core processes have achieved 100% digitalization, reducing the design-to-shipment cycle from 7-10 days to just 2-3 days while improving product quality pass rates to over 99%.
Technology in Action: From Showcase to Utility
Functional yarns were a highlight at the fair, with local companies demonstrating nano-scale water-, oil-, and stain-repellent yarns, as well as cooling, heat-generating, and antibacterial varieties. Dalang develops nearly 10,000 new yarn types annually and holds two-thirds of China's fancy yarn patents, making it the country's largest wool yarn distribution hub.
On the equipment front, next-generation intelligent knitting machines and seamless forming equipment were on display, signaling a new phase of automation. Leading firms like Xinhongfeng have already adopted these technologies at scale. On the design side, the AI sweater model and the OPC design agent enable intelligent style generation and automatic process parameter extraction. A live AI customization experience allowed visitors to experience '2-hour instant garment' service.
Standards and Branding: The Battle for Industry Influence
A key move at the congress was the release of the Dalang Wool Industry Global Index. This positions Dalang not just as a production base but as a shaper of industry benchmarks. For exporters, this index will become a critical tool for pricing, inventory management, and market forecasting. Concurrently, agreements on textile intangible heritage standards and certification were signed, aiming to convert cultural attributes into commercial value. The fashion show featuring 'Kirin Blue' and 'Auspicious Beast Crimson' themes demonstrated how heritage can drive premium pricing.
Cluster Effect: From Dongguan to the Nation
Dalang's upgrade offers a replicable model for other textile clusters in China, such as Puyuan in Zhejiang or Hengshan in Jiangsu. The local government is pushing forward the 'Dalang Weaving Valley' project, a comprehensive service platform located at a subway station exit, with the 'Eye of Dalang' building symbolizing global connectivity. The clear takeaway: relying solely on production capacity is no longer viable; future competition hinges on smart manufacturing, material innovation, and standard-setting power.