One out of every five sweaters globally is produced in Dalang, Dongguan. This woolen town, with an annual garment output exceeding 900 million pieces and a total supply chain transaction volume surpassing 72 billion yuan, once again became the focal point at the 95th International Wool Textile Conference. As natural fibers meet digital technology, the wool industry is transforming from traditional manufacturing into a growth engine driven by intelligence and experience.
Industry Data Reveal Resilience
Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), disclosed key data in his keynote speech: China processes over 60 million tons of fiber annually and produces more than 70 billion garments, accounting for over 50% of global shares. On the export front, textile and apparel exports have exceeded 300 billion USD for six consecutive years, with strong exports of intermediate products like chemical fibers and fabrics stabilizing global supply chains. From January to May this year, textile exports grew 1.7% year-on-year to 59.48 billion USD, while apparel exports fell 1.6% to 57.24 billion USD. This contrast indicates stronger resilience in upstream intermediate goods versus downstream finished garments.
Notably, profits of enterprises above designated size rose 19.3% year-on-year from January to April, with an operating profit margin of 2.9%. Profit growth far outpacing revenue suggests that the industry is absorbing external pressures through product mix upgrades and cost control. Retail sales of garments, footwear, hats, and knitwear at units above designated size grew 8.1% year-on-year, with the domestic market acting as a stabilizer.
Intelligent Economy Reshapes Industry Paradigm
The conference theme 'Intelligent Weaving Future' is not mere rhetoric. Sun Ruizhe noted that AI is penetrating the entire chain from design and production to management. Jiangsu Yueda Textile's 'Lighthouse Factory' reduced labor per 10,000 spindles by about 70% through smart manufacturing, while quadrupling labor productivity, cutting unit energy consumption by 15%. Semir's AI-assisted design system boosted overall design efficiency by 35% and pattern design efficiency by over 200%. Bosideng's 'AI Aesthetic Brain' reduced sample development costs by over 60%. These cases show AI is no longer a concept but a tangible factor reshaping factory input-output models.
The intelligent economy has also spawned 'digital employees' and 'one-person companies'. IDC predicts billions of AI agents will enter the workforce by 2030. In the first half of 2025, new OPC registrations in China surged 47% year-on-year, indicating that individualized, platform-based production models are diverting orders from traditional factories. For wool enterprises, this means a reallocation of factors—from land and labor to computing power, data, and algorithms.
Experience Economy Drives Consumer Change
Global consumer markets are undergoing ecological reconstruction, human-centric regression, and structural differentiation. Consumer stratification is evident, with health, emotional connection, and self-expression becoming core demands. Wool's natural fiber properties align perfectly with this trend. The agglomeration effect of the Dalang cluster shortens lead times from raw material to finished garment, enabling small-batch, quick-turnaround orders.
Sun Ruizhe highlighted that Chinese fashion trends are boosting the recognition of Chinese brands globally. Companies like Anta and SHEIN have entered the GYBrand World Top 500, while Hengli and Erdos are deepening global cooperation through cross-border M&A. For wool enterprises, branding is no longer optional but essential for moving from OEM to value-added production.