One out of every five sweaters globally is made in Dalang, a small town in Dongguan, Guangdong. This Pearl River Delta hub produces 900 million sweaters annually, with its full industrial chain transaction value exceeding 72 billion yuan. On June 25, the 10th Textile Intangible Heritage Conference was held here, sending a clear signal: as the scale advantages of the knitting cluster plateau, cultural premium is becoming the next growth driver.
Deep Integration of Industrial Cluster and Cultural IP
Dalang's knitting industry began in the 1980s, evolving from a 'three-plus-one' processing base into the world's largest and most complete knitting cluster. The town now hosts 30,000 knitting-related businesses, employing over 200,000 people. But with scale comes homogenized competition and shrinking margins.
This conference, co-hosted by the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and the Dalang government, was themed 'Intangible Heritage Symbiosis, Weaving the Future.' Unlike previous editions, it embedded heritage craftsmanship directly into core industry processes—from raw material development and pattern design to finished garments. Deng Xiaoding, Second-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that promoting the living inheritance and innovative transformation of textile heritage is a key path to cultivating new quality productivity and building a modern industrial system.
From OEM to Cultural Value-Add
Local Dalang companies have already explored the 'knitting + heritage' path. Impression Highland focuses on high-end cashmere; Tongmen Fashion combines traditional Chaozhou hand-hook techniques with modern computerized knitting; Zhouhong Fashion emphasizes deep integration of aesthetics and knitting. These cases show that cultural elements must be embedded from the production side, not just as labels.
Professor Guo Ruiping from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology presented series inspired by the 24 solar terms and indigo dye innovations. She argued that the key to heritage transformation is 'multi-dimensional cognitive upgrading and reshaping,' tailored to local conditions. For Dalang factories and traders, this means heritage is not a museum piece but a set of technical modules—patterns, techniques, dyes—that can be integrated into existing production lines.
Policy and Platform Support
The conference released the '2025/2026 China Textile Intangible Heritage Development Report,' summarizing annual achievements and industrial integration. Meanwhile, CNTAC's Heritage Office partnered with Beijing Fashion Week to launch the 'Heritage·Origin—China Youth Design Support Program,' targeting independent designers and young inheritors.
On the policy front, representatives from both the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism attended. Deng proposed four recommendations: preserve the core, empower with culture, innovate in scenarios, and collaborate in governance. This framework suggests clusters should not simply replicate tradition but innovate in materials, forms, and production methods while preserving spiritual and cultural essence.
Practical Impact for Buyers and Factories
For buyers, incorporating heritage elements opens differentiation opportunities. In a 72-billion-yuan market, those who master commercializable heritage transformation first can build a moat against price wars. The conference salon shared a case from Douyin (TikTok) on successfully commercializing Zhuang brocade, indicating rising online acceptance.
For factories, challenges lie in process standardization and cost control. Traditional crafts like Chaozhou embroidery and Nanjing brocade are far more complex than standard knitwear, requiring equipment adjustments and worker training. But Dalang's supply chain strength—from yarn sourcing to finishing—shortens sampling cycles.