At the 2026 PH Value China International Knitwear (Autumn/Winter) Expo, 15 Ordos cashmere enterprises showcased their full product range. Behind the exhibition buzz lies a compelling statistic: Ordos processes nearly half of China's and about 40% of the world's cashmere garments. This scale makes the transition from 'China's Cashmere Capital' to 'World's Cashmere Capital' more than a slogan.
Industrial Foundation: Scarce Resources and a Closed-Loop Chain
Ordos's strength stems from its irreplaceable raw material endowment. Arbas cashmere is renowned for its fineness, luster, and whiteness, and is protected as a national geographical indication product, often dubbed 'diamond fiber'. At the expo, Jia Zhanrong, president of the Ordos Council for the Promotion of International Trade, noted that many regions have attempted to introduce Arbas goats but failed due to specific geographic latitude, humidity, and grassland conditions. This scarcity forms the industry's deepest moat.
More crucially, Ordos has built the world's most complete cashmere industrial chain, covering raw fleece collection, dehairing, spinning, weaving, and garment manufacturing, forming an integrated 'pastoral-industrial-trade' model. The city hosts over 100 supporting enterprises led by Erdos Group, with processing capacity covering half of China's total. For international buyers, this means one-stop sourcing from raw material to finished garments, significantly reducing transaction costs and ensuring quality control.
Innovation and Branding: From 'Warmth' to 'Fashion'
Owning top-tier raw material is just the starting point. The real challenge is converting 'soft gold' into appropriate value. In recent years, Ordos has brought in designers from France, Germany, and Italy to integrate grassland totems and felt embroidery into modern knitwear design. During Paris Fashion Week 2024, over 20 enterprises staged 'Ordos Fashion Day' at the Palais Brongniart, bringing Chinese cashmere to the international fashion stage.
Meanwhile, smart manufacturing is reshaping traditional production. Digital technologies enable flexible manufacturing and rapid response, molecular breeding safeguards germplasm resources, and green dyeing techniques are being adopted. However, Jia admitted that compared with world-class clusters like Italy, Ordos still lags in brand premium and design soft power. To address this, the region has launched a 'Brand Value Breakthrough Initiative', building a brand export matrix led by flagship brands with tiered follow-ups. Main brands target mainstream Western markets, while niche brands like Dongfeiyan and Palandi use cross-border e-commerce to reach specific consumer segments.
Openness and Future: From 'Going Global' to 'Going Deep'
Ordos's globalization strategy has shifted from 'broad net' to 'deep cultivation of core markets'. Since 2018, the city has hosted the China (Ordos) International Cashmere and Wool Exhibition; the eighth edition in July 2025 attracted enterprises from France, Italy, UK, and Japan. Additionally, the Ordos delegation has participated in PH Value for the third time, with improving results each year. Brands like Shuangqi, Dongfeiyan, Palandi, and Abulodi have established overseas channels in the US, France, Italy, and the UK.
Next, Ordos will implement a 'Global Market Deep Cultivation Initiative', selecting Paris, Milan, and other fashion hubs for intensive incubation, and leveraging platforms like the Osaka World Expo to integrate industry with culture and tourism. From exporting raw materials to exporting brands, from 'China's Cashmere Capital' to 'World's Cashmere Capital', this transformation tests endurance. For buyers and trading companies, Ordos's full-chain advantage and brand upgrade mean more stable supply and higher added value.