An intended transaction volume of 3.6 billion yuan, 35,000 buyers, and nearly 2,000 exhibitors—these are the results from the woolen textile event in Dalan, Guangdong, at the end of June 2026. Among these metrics, the number of buyers and intended transaction value grew by 16% and 18.5% year-on-year, respectively, both outpacing the industry average. This world-first 'three-in-one' woolen textile gathering reflects not just an expanded trade show, but a deeper transformation of a traditional textile cluster from OEM dependency toward branding, intelligence, and sustainability.
The Industrial Gravity Behind Trade Data
The biggest variable in this year's event was the concentrated entry of top-tier brand procurement groups. Domestic brands like Huimei Fashion, UR, and SHEIN, along with buyers from over 20 countries including Russia, France, and Poland, formed a diverse demand matrix. The two dedicated matchmaking sessions were particularly telling: the 'Dalan Woolen Textiles–Brand Apparel Procurement Matchmaking' secured over 20 collaborations worth 30 million yuan, while the 'Chain Up Dalan, Weaving the Future' production-marketing matchmaking added another 20 million yuan in intended orders. This signals that Dalan is no longer just a place for scattered orders and OEM work; it is becoming a core node in brand supply chains. For buyers, this translates into shorter delivery cycles and more controllable quality stability.
Technological Leap: From Functional Yarns to 'Design-as-Product'
The technology on display at the venue revealed another key variable: manufacturing intelligence. Functional woolen sweaters featuring waterproof, anti-fouling, anti-static, phase-change temperature-regulating, Japanese-certified cooling yarns, and breakthrough fire-resistant processes were showcased. These products are no longer limited to warmth or decoration but are expanding into functional textiles. More noteworthy is the production-side change: the popularization of whole-garment knitting technology, 3D digital modeling replacing cumbersome pattern-making, and flexible production lines adapting to small-batch, fast-response orders, making 'design-as-product' a reality. For foreign trade companies, this means the old rhythm of 'sampling for three months, orders for half a year' will be shattered, and rapid response capability will become a new competitive barrier.
Soft Power as a Hard Barrier: Intangible Heritage and Green Transition
For the first time, the Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference was integrated into the core agenda of this event, indicating that industrial upgrade is no longer just about equipment and capacity. Designer Wang Dong partnered with local enterprises to embroider patterns from intangible heritage inheritor Wan Gongxue's kylin motifs into 36 original fashion pieces, with everything from design to garment production completed locally in Dalan. This cultural value-added directly enhanced product premium space. Meanwhile, the International Wool Textile Organization's Wool Green Paper was globally launched in Dalan, providing a roadmap for the industry's green transition, from regenerative grazing to traceability systems. In-depth discussions among industry representatives from over 20 countries, along with multiple signed agreements on intangible heritage standards and industrial innovation integration, indicate that Dalan is transitioning from a mere manufacturing base to a role in setting industry standards.