While many textile clusters are struggling with declining orders, the Ordos cashmere delegation at the 2026 PH Value International Knitting (Autumn/Winter) Expo sent a different signal: 15 local companies showcased full-category products, not just raw materials. Behind this lies a striking figure—the city's cashmere processing capacity accounts for half of China's total and nearly 40% of the global share. The dual advantage of raw material monopoly and manufacturing scale is being converted into confidence for brand globalization.
Industrial Foundation: An Unreplicable Resource Moat
Ordos's competitiveness first stems from the exclusivity of its germplasm resources. Alpas cashmere is renowned for fineness, whiteness, and luster, and is protected by national geographical indication, earning the title 'diamond fiber.' Local trade promotion officials state that attempts to introduce breeding elsewhere have failed, as specific latitude, humidity, and pasture conditions form a natural barrier. This means that the pricing power for global high-end cashmere raw materials has long been in Ordos's hands.
More critically, the region has formed a complete 'pastoral-industrial-trade integrated' loop: from raw fleece collection, combing to spinning and garment making, over a hundred supporting enterprises cluster around the leading company. For international buyers, this means completing all steps from raw material to finished garment within one industrial belt, significantly enhancing procurement cost efficiency and quality control. While Hebei's Qinghe and other origins are industrially developed, their raw materials mostly rely on Ordos, further strengthening its source position.
Upgrade Path: From 'Keeping the World Warm' to 'Fashioning the World'
Owning top-tier raw materials is only the starting point; the real challenge lies in added value. Ordos has evidently realized that merely selling raw materials and OEM production keeps it at the low end of the value chain. In recent years, the region has introduced designers from France, Germany, and Italy to integrate prairie totems and felt embroidery techniques into modern knitwear. During Paris Fashion Week 2024, the Ordos Trade Promotion Council led over 20 companies to host 'Ordos Fashion Day' at the Palais Brogniart. The industry significance is that Chinese cashmere is moving from behind the scenes to the forefront, vying for fashion definition power.
Smart manufacturing is simultaneously reshaping traditional production. Digital technology supports flexible manufacturing and rapid response, molecular breeding protects germplasm, and green dyeing enhances environmental standards. The returns on these investments are reflected in brand premium—though gaps remain compared with Italian clusters, the 'Brand Value Breakthrough Action' has built a brand export matrix led by key players with tiered follow-ups: main brands target mainstream European and American markets, while specialty brands like Dongfeiyan and Palanti reach consumers directly via cross-border e-commerce. This tiered strategy avoids internal homogenization and covers diverse market segments.
Open Ecosystem: Exhibition Economy and Global Deep Cultivation
Since 2018, the Ordos Trade Promotion Council has been cultivating the China (Ordos) International Cashmere and Wool Exhibition. The eighth edition in July 2025 attracted companies from France, Italy, the UK, and Japan. Three consecutive appearances at the PH Value Knitting Expo have yielded improving results—exhibitions serve not only as order harvesters but also as confidence boosters. Companies like Shuangqi, Dongfeiyan, Palanti, and Abulodi have established overseas channels in the US, France, Italy, and the UK, indicating that the cluster's internationalization is a systematic layout rather than a one-off breakthrough.
The upcoming 'Global Market Deep Cultivation Action' deserves attention: shifting from a scattered approach to selecting fashion core cities like Paris and Milan for deep incubation, and leveraging the Osaka World Expo to promote integration of industry with culture and tourism. This shift from 'selling products' to 'selling culture' suggests that Ordos is attempting to establish consumer recognition of 'Chinese cashmere' as a concept, not just exporting goods.