In June 2026, Dalang's unprecedented 'three-in-one' knitting event delivered a standout performance: 3.6 billion yuan in intentional deals over three days, drawing 35,000 buyers and nearly 2,000 exhibitors. The year-on-year growth of 16% in buyer numbers and 18.5% in deal value far exceeds industry averages, signaling Dalang's accelerating gravitational pull in the global wool supply chain.
Background
This combined event—merging the 95th International Wool Conference, the 23rd Knitwear Fair, and the 10th Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference—essentially deconstructed and restructured the traditional trade fair model. Previously held separately, the integration into an 'international summit + full-chain exhibition + heritage festival' structure transformed Dalang from a manufacturing hub into a global dialogue platform for the wool industry.
Two dedicated matchmaking sessions generated 50 million yuan in immediate orders. The 'Dalang Knitwear-Brand Apparel Procurement Matchmaking' secured over 20 partnerships worth 30 million yuan, while another session added 20 million yuan. Head buyers from brands like Huimei Fashion, UR, and SHEIN attended, alongside visitors from over 20 countries including Russia, France, and Poland. This precise supply-demand matching significantly boosted conversion efficiency.
Industry Impact
Dalang's showcased 'smart manufacturing' is rewriting cost and efficiency equations. Functional knitwear on display ranged from waterproof, anti-stain, and anti-static fabrics to phase-change temperature-regulating yarns, Japanese-certified cooling yarns, and breakthrough fire-resistant finishes. These are no longer lab concepts but products entering batch production. Key enablers include the widespread adoption of seamless knitting technology, 3D digital modeling replacing manual pattern-making, and flexible production lines supporting small-batch, quick-response orders. 'Design-to-product' is now a replicable business logic.
For brand buyers, this means prototyping cycles shrink from two weeks to under three days, and minimum order quantities drop from 3,000 to 500 pieces. Small-batch, multi-variety, rapid-replenishment supply chains are operational in Dalang. For factories, smart upgrades yield higher quality rates and lower labor costs; each seamless knitting machine can replace 4-6 skilled workers while reducing yarn waste by about 8%.
Incorporating intangible cultural heritage is not mere decoration but a strategic differentiation. Designer Wang Dong integrated inheritor Wan Gongxue's Qilin patterns into 36 original fashion pieces, all produced locally in Dalang. This 'localized' cultural transformation adds a premium dimension beyond functionality and price. The 'Zhi·He' and 'Zhi·Hun' display zones, featuring dragon dance heritage frames and yarn-collaged 'Colorful Cloud Dragon,' essentially inject traditional IP recognition into modern knits.
The green transition consensus was elevated. The International Wool Textile Organization's Wool Green Paper had its global launch in Dalang, covering regenerative grazing and traceability systems—a practical manual for the industry's low-carbon shift. Representatives from over 20 countries discussed green transformation and supply chain coordination. Multiple agreements on heritage standards and innovation integration were signed. These moves signal Dalang's ambition: not just as a manufacturing base, but as a rule-maker and standard-setter.