One out of every five sweaters worldwide is made in Dalang, Dongguan. This knitwear cluster, with an annual transaction value exceeding RMB 72 billion, is searching for a new growth engine—intangible cultural heritage (ICH). On June 25, the 10th China Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference was held at the Dalang Knitwear Trade Center, marking not just a gathering of heritage inheritors but a live experiment in industrial upgrading.
From OEM to Cultural Empowerment: Dalang's Transformation Logic
Dalang's knitwear industry began in the 1980s with OEM processing. Today, it hosts 30,000 market entities and employs over 200,000 people. In 2025, the full industrial chain transaction value reached RMB 72 billion, with annual sweater output of 900 million pieces. Yet behind the scale lies a dependence on foreign trade and a lack of brand premium.
Sun Ruizhe, president of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), pointed out in his report that textile ICH is a key resource for enhancing industrial value. Local companies have already begun experimenting: Impression Grassland focuses on high-end cashmere, Tongmen Fashion combines Chaozhou hand-hook techniques with computerized knitting, and Zhouhong Fashion emphasizes the deep integration of aesthetics and craftsmanship. These cases show that ICH is no longer a museum artifact but a scalable differentiator.
Signals from the Data
The release of the '2025/2026 China Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Report' provides an annual benchmark for the industry. Deng Xiaoding, a second-level inspector at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, proposed four recommendations—preserve fundamentals, empower with culture, innovate scenarios, and co-govern—which essentially form a roadmap from 'protection' to 'commercialization.'
Notably, the 'Heritage·Origin' youth design support program, jointly launched by CNTAC's ICH office and Beijing Fashion Week, directly targets the talent gap in design. For buyers, this means that over the next 2-3 years, a cohort of commercially trained ICH designers will enter the market, accelerating the shift from 'handicrafts' to 'fashion consumer goods.'
Three Key Entry Points for Commercialization
Ning Manli, chairwoman of Danzhai Ninghang Batik, captured the core tension: 'Let those who know the craft keep the roots, and let those who know the market open the door.' Commercialization cannot rely solely on sentiment; it requires replicable models.
Based on conference cases, successful paths cluster around three directions:
- Product systematization: Impression Grassland extends ICH from single items to 'lifestyle' scenarios, covering homewear and accessories.
- Digital channels: Douyin (TikTok) drove direct sales for Zhuang brocade through a 'ICH Outfit' campaign, proving short-video e-commerce is an effective tool.
- Contemporary design: Professor Guo Ruiping from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology used the 24 solar terms as inspiration, transforming indigo dye and autumn equinox motifs into knitwear collections, emphasizing 'timeliness, fashionability, and livability.'
Practical Impact for Buyers and Factories
For brand buyers, Dalang's ICH transformation means new supply chain options—products with cultural narratives and craft barriers can support higher retail prices. However, lead times and quality control for ICH products may be less stable than standardized items; start with small trial orders.
For export factories, Western markets increasingly value 'sustainability' and 'cultural stories.' Adding ICH elements (e.g., Chaozhou embroidery, hand-hooking) to regular sweaters could command a premium. But assess target market cultural acceptance to avoid misreading of 'Chinese symbols.'