While the national home textile industry saw only a 0.96% revenue increase in the first half of the year, Haining's home textile sector grew by 9.2%. This contrast suggests that traditional industries still have growth potential, provided they break away from low-cost manufacturing inertia. The 35th Haining Home Textile Fair, which opened on August 15, saw first-day visitor traffic rise 22.1% year-on-year, signaling buyers' endorsement of Haining's transition from a fabric distribution hub to an industrial ecosystem platform.
Data Behind the Divergence
According to public data from the China National Textile and Apparel Council, revenue of large-scale enterprises in the industry increased by only 0.96% in the first half, while exports grew by 3.79%. Haining's home textile industry, however, achieved 9.2% growth in the same period—nearly ten times the industry average. This divergence is not accidental: investments in digital transformation, original design, high-end fabric R&D, and brand building have become key differentiators during weak demand. For buyers, this means the era of pure price comparison is over; a supplier's R&D capability and responsiveness now directly determine order stability.
The fair's 250,000 square meters, 2,500 source factories, four halls, and six themed zones are impressive numbers, but the structural changes are more noteworthy. The launch of the first sofa fabric design week and the debut of the 2026/27 color trend zone signal that the fair is no longer just a trading venue but is becoming a trend setter.
From a Piece of Cloth to a Home: Industrial Chain Reconstruction
Xucun, the birthplace of Haining's home textile industry, has built a global supply chain advantage in jacquard fabrics over four decades. This year's fair shows that this advantage is being recombined: the smart shading zone integrates electric tracks, eco-friendly coating, and decorative tapes into system solutions; the intangible cultural heritage zone extends jacquard techniques from sofas and curtains to apparel fabrics; silk, celadon, and screen elements are introduced into home scenarios. The narrative is shifting from 'fabric' to 'space expression,' driven by consumer demand for holistic home solutions.
For factories, this means product development logic must change. Single fabric varieties are insufficient to sustain profits; integration and functionality are necessary. Haining Home Textile City has established platforms with Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, including a fashion fabric innovation center and a textile intangible heritage creative center. Last year, they signed a project for a fashion industry technology innovation R&D center, bridging the gap from university labs to production lines. Such industry-academia collaboration provides SMEs with R&D resources they could not otherwise access.
New Logic of Exhibition Economy: Results Matter
Exhibitors' investment is the litmus test of a fair's value. This year, many companies renovated booths, doubled space, and increased new product ratios. Hong Kong Bense, for example, showcased a 'natural texture' theme using cotton, linen, silk, wool, bamboo, and reeds, building a complete color system. Its general manager noted that the Haining fair, being local, is highly effective, with orders continuing for one to two months after each spring and autumn edition. The advantage of a 'home fair' reduces costs and improves efficiency, making exhibitors willing to invest more.
During the fair, the Haining Home Textile City · International Silk Creative R&D Center was inaugurated to promote integration of silk creativity with home textiles. Additionally, the 'Haining Home Textile Cup' design competition, now in its 24th year, continues to nurture new design talent. These initiatives reinforce Haining's ambition to export not just fabrics but also design, standards, and trends.
Policy Support and Transformation Window
Haining's home textile industry was listed in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's 'China Consumer Brand' list this year, and the Home Textile City was selected as a provincial pilot for professional market transformation. The government plans to advance three aspects: market transformation through the 'one center, four markets' layout, building an international fashion center and striving for a national creative design cluster; industrial renewal through the 'hundred enterprises' initiative, integrating aesthetics, technology, and green elements; and service improvement through supportive policies, organizing enterprises to appear at domestic and international fashion weeks, and facilitating brand globalization.
For other industrial clusters nationwide, Haining's path offers a reference. It proves that upgrading traditional industries does not require starting from scratch but rather extending existing supply chain advantages toward design, branding, and services. When industry growth slows, regions that integrate R&D, design, trade, and policy resources will gain stronger bargaining power and resilience.