One in five sweaters worldwide comes from Dalang, Dongguan, a knitting cluster with an annual trade volume exceeding 72 billion yuan. On June 25, the 10th Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference was held at the Dalang Knitting Trade Center, sending a clear signal: intangible heritage is no longer a museum exhibit but a key variable in the knitting industry's transformation toward new productive forces.
Data-Driven Revaluation of Heritage Value
Starting as a processing base in the 1980s, Dalang now hosts over 30,000 market entities and more than 200,000 employees, producing about 900 million sweaters annually. In 2025, the entire industrial chain's trade volume surpassed 72 billion yuan, heading toward 100 billion. These figures show that despite automation and digitization, the knitting industry remains massive in scale and employment. However, the real challenge is intensifying homogenization, shrinking profit margins, and rising demand for cultural added value among younger consumers.
At this juncture, textile intangible heritage is being pushed to the forefront. Sun Ruizhe, president of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, stated in his report that textile heritage is a vital resource for enhancing industrial value and a key carrier for cultural influence. For buyers and factories, this means heritage is no longer a decorative afterthought but a practical tool for pricing power, brand recognition, and market premium.
Dalang Model: From Processing Base to Cultural Export Hub
Deputy Mayor Ye Jianfen of Dalang introduced several benchmark enterprises that have integrated heritage with knitting. Yinxiang Prairie focuses on high-end cashmere, Tongmen Fashion combines traditional Chaozhou hand-hook techniques with modern computerized knitting, and Zhouhong Fashion prioritizes deep integration of aesthetics and knitting technology. These cases reveal a critical trend: industrialization of heritage is not about simply printing traditional patterns on clothing but requires a complete restructuring of craft logic, supply chain management, and market channels.
Deng Xiaoding, second-level inspector of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, proposed four directions: preserving traditions, cultural empowerment, scenario innovation, and collaborative governance. Scenario innovation is particularly noteworthy—it demands that heritage products enter consumers' daily lives, not just remain on display. This aligns with Professor Guo Ruiping's view: the key to heritage transformation is contemporarization, fashionability, livability, and industrialization.
Breaking the Talent Gap and Commercialization Barriers
Two major outcomes from the conference directly address industry pain points. First, the 2025/2026 China Textile Intangible Heritage Development Report systematically reviews annual achievements and a decade of progress. Second, the Heritage·Original Creation—China Youth Heritage Design Support Project, jointly launched by the CNTAC Heritage Office and Beijing Fashion Week, provides a platform for young designers and inheritors.
The talent gap has long been evident in the textile industry. Younger generations often view traditional crafts as outdated, lacking the design skills and business acumen to transform them into modern products. Commercialization faces multiple obstacles: high production costs, low standardization, and limited market awareness. Ning Manli, chairwoman of Danzhai Ninghang Batik, captured the essence: 'Let those who know the craft preserve the roots, and let those who understand the market open the door. The roots cannot be lost, and the door cannot be closed.'
Practical Insights for Buyers and Exporters
For Buyers - Look for products combining heritage with functionality: Traditional techniques like Chaozhou embroidery or Nanjing brocade integrated with high-performance fabrics (waterproof, breathable, antibacterial) offer differentiation. - Prioritize clusters with complete supply chains: Dalang integrates everything from yarn to finished garments to heritage techniques, reducing sampling and delivery risks. - Verify heritage certification and traceability: Request supplier documentation of heritage inheritor authorization or craft certification to avoid cultural appropriation risks.
For Exporters - Use heritage to craft brand narratives: Curiosity about Chinese traditional culture is rising in Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia. Heritage can serve as a core narrative for brand premium. - Assess small-batch flexible production capabilities: Heritage products often involve handcraft, suitable for small-batch, multi-style orders. Evaluate factory flexibility early. - Leverage government support policies: Clusters like Dalang offer special subsidies and exhibition platforms for 'knitting + heritage'. Exporters can use these to reduce overseas market entry costs.
The fusion of textile heritage and the knitting industry represents a value leap from 'manufacturing' to 'creation.' When one in five sweaters globally comes from Dalang, the combination of scale and cultural added value offers a replicable transformation path for the entire textile industry.