One in every five sweaters worldwide is produced in Dalang Town, Dongguan, Guangdong. This statistic was underscored at the 95th IWTO Congress, backed by an annual output of over 900 million garments and a supply chain transaction value exceeding 72 billion yuan. On June 24, the congress, hosted by the International Wool Textile Organization and co-organized by the China Wool Textile Association and the Dongguan Wool Textile Association, opened in Dalang, attracting delegates from over 20 countries.
Green Transformation Takes Center Stage
The most notable move at this congress was the global launch of the IWTO Wool Green Paper. Positioned as a key lever for the wool industry's transformation, its core goal is to establish a unified traceability data system across the entire supply chain and promote the development of carbon footprint accounting standards for wool. The Green Paper's publishers pointed out a data dilemma: existing studies deliberately exaggerate wool's negative environmental impact, leading young urban consumers to develop biases against animal husbandry, making it difficult for the industry to reverse misleading public opinion despite significant investment. The Green Paper is just the starting point; subsequent steps include region-specific carbon footprint standards, wool durability standards, and the formation of a natural fiber industry alliance.
For buyers, this means future environmental claims on wool products will face stricter traceability requirements. Companies that cannot provide carbon footprint data from farm to garment risk losing market access in the face of new green trade barriers. IWTO President Klaus Steger emphasized in his address that wool is not just a fiber but carries complex challenges in trade, politics, and the environment, making standard-setting and policy coordination central to industry development.
China's Role in Global Wool Processing
Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, stated in his keynote that China's wool industry is serving the global industry through innovation. As the world's largest holder of wool processing capacity, China imports large quantities of raw wool annually while exporting various wool products. Dalang's industrial ecosystem—from raw material processing to product design, manufacturing, and trade circulation—is seen as a typical microcosm of how Chinese textiles integrate into global markets.
Notably, against the backdrop of trade protectionism impacting supply chains, Dalang's industry has shown strong resilience. A representative from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed four pathways: using standards to build a shared global industry language; driving digital transformation through innovation; highlighting the value of natural fibers through green practices; and building a mutually beneficial global ecosystem through openness. These four pathways directly address two major pressures: first, the battle over sustainability discourse with markets like the EU, and second, consumer demand for transparent supply chains.
Industrial Cluster and Youth Power Resonance
Dong Tie, Secretary of the Dalang Town Party Committee, stated at the congress that the town's wool industry, after over 40 years of development, exports to over 100 countries and is now deepening its transformation toward smart, green, and brand-oriented models. During the congress, Zhuo Ma, a representative from a Tibetan enterprise, shared a sustainable supply chain practice using highland yak down and local wool, showcasing a 'platform + workshop + school' model that balances intangible cultural heritage revitalization with industrial upgrading. Such cases show that China's wool industry transformation is not unidirectional but a coordinated evolution across diverse production areas, materials, and techniques.
The Young Wool Professionals program was highlighted at this congress. Its founders emphasized that the platform aims to help newcomers in the industry cross geographical boundaries, build networks, and recognize that wool craftsmanship is not just an ancient skill but a career worth passing down. Dozens of young representatives took the stage, covering the entire chain from raw materials to retail. This move reflects the industry's anxiety over a talent gap—the technical barriers and cultural heritage of the wool industry need fresh blood to sustain.