With 3.6 billion yuan in intended deals, 35,000 buyers, and nearly 2,000 exhibitors, the June 2026 Dalang woolen three-in-one event posted a standout performance. Buyer numbers and deal value grew 16% and 18.5% year-on-year respectively, a notable reversal amid global wool demand pressure.
Background
Held from June 24 to 26, this event merged the 95th International Wool Conference, the 23rd 'Knitting Fair', and the 10th Textile Intangible Heritage Conference for the first time. Dalang, a global wool industry hub, signaled a clear upgrade path through this 'international summit + full-chain expo + heritage festival' format.
Buyer composition was telling: leading brands like Huimei Fashion, UR, and SHEIN attended, alongside buyers from over 20 countries including Russia, France, and Poland. Two dedicated matchmaking sessions yielded 30 million yuan in immediate deals and another 20 million in intended orders. The simultaneous growth in buyer count and deal value underscores Dalang's supply chain resilience.
Industry Impact
The technology on display pointed to the sector's next moves. Functional knitwear featuring waterproof, anti-static, temperature-regulating, Japanese-certified cooling yarns, and breakthrough fire-resistant processes were showcased. Widespread adoption of seamless knitting, 3D digital modeling replacing traditional sampling, and flexible production lines for small-batch fast response mean 'design-to-product' is becoming a reality in Dalang. For small buyers, this translates to shorter sampling cycles and lower trial costs.
Heritage integration was another highlight. At the 10th Textile Intangible Heritage Conference, designer Wang Dong embroidered inheritor Wan Gongxue's Qilin patterns into 36 original outfits, all locally produced. The 'Weave·Core' and 'Weave·Soul' displays featured dragon dance heritage frames combined with yarn collages, reviving Lingnan culture in modern stitches. This cultural empowerment adds product value and opens differentiation paths.
On the global consensus front, the International Wool Textile Organization's Wool Green Paper debuted in Dalang, offering a green transition roadmap covering regenerative grazing and traceability. Delegates from over 20 nations discussed green transformation and supply chain coordination. Multiple agreements on heritage standards and innovation integration were signed, accelerating a full-chain layout from culture to manufacturing.