A single set of figures underscores the weight of Ordos's cashmere industry: more than half of China's cashmere product processing capacity, nearly 40% of global output, and the Arbas goat down, internationally recognized as 'diamond fiber'. When these numbers align with the goal of becoming the 'World Cashmere Capital', observers see not just the size of an industrial cluster, but a trajectory from resource dependence to brand export. On August 25, 2026, at the PH Value China International Knitting (Autumn/Winter) Expo held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, the Ordos Council for the Promotion of International Trade led 15 local enterprises to a collective appearance, once again showcasing the phased achievements of this path.
Resource Moat and Full-Chain Closure
Ordos's moat first comes from natural endowment. Arbas cashmere is renowned for its fineness, whiteness, and luster, having won international awards and received national geographical indication protection. More importantly, this germplasm resource has a strong regional lock-in—the local trade promotion official explicitly stated that attempts to introduce breeding elsewhere have failed, as specific latitude, humidity, and pasture conditions form an irreplaceable ecological barrier. For buyers, this means stability and scarcity of raw material quality are naturally guaranteed, but it also implies limited supply elasticity, making prices susceptible to seasonal and output fluctuations.
What truly distinguishes Ordos from ordinary cashmere-producing areas is its integrated 'pastoral-industrial-trade' chain. From raw down collection, debairing, spinning to garment manufacturing, the city hosts over a hundred supporting enterprises led by the Ordos Group, forming a highly compact industrial ecosystem. The direct benefit of this agglomeration is procurement efficiency—international buyers can complete all stages from raw material to finished product within one industrial belt, reducing communication and logistics costs while mitigating quality risks through whole-process quality control. In contrast, regions like Hebei's Qinghe, though processing-capable, rely heavily on external raw materials and lack source control.
From Manufacturing to Fashion: Value-Added Leap
Owning top-tier raw materials is just the starting point. The real challenge for Ordos's cashmere industry is converting resource value into brand premium. For a long time, the slogan 'Ordos cashmere sweaters, warm the world' has been deeply ingrained, but 'warmth' is a functional attribute, far from 'fashion'. To bridge this gap, the local government is implementing a 'Brand Value Breakthrough Action', hiring designers from France, Germany, and Italy to integrate prairie totems, felt embroidery techniques, and nomadic aesthetics into modern knitwear design, attempting to engage in aesthetic dialogue with international brands.
During Paris Fashion Week 2024, the Ordos CCPIT led over 20 enterprises to the Palais Brongniart to host 'Ordos Fashion Day', marking a turning point from behind-the-scenes OEM to front-stage display. Meanwhile, smart manufacturing has not been neglected—despite energy being the region's economic pillar, cashmere enterprises have invested in digital design, flexible manufacturing, and green dyeing. The significance of these technological upgrades lies in enabling 'small batches, multiple styles, and quick response', precisely meeting the increasingly fragmented and personalized demand trends in the global market.
Exhibition Effects and Global Market Deepening
Exhibition economy plays a pivotal role in Ordos cashmere's internationalization. Since 2018, the local government has cultivated the China (Ordos) International Cashmere & Wool Exhibition, holding its eighth edition in July 2025, attracting exhibitors from France, Italy, the UK, and Japan. This participation in the PH Value Knitting Expo marks the third time, with the local CCPIT official noting 'the results get better each year'. Exhibitions are not just order generators but also windows for understanding international trends and learning business practices. Currently, enterprises such as Shuangqi, Dongfeiyan, Palanti, and Abu Luodi have established overseas channels in the US, France, Italy, and the UK.
Next, Ordos plans to implement a 'Global Market Deep Cultivation Action', abandoning the previous 'spray-and-pray' model in favor of selecting fashion core cities like Paris and Milan for in-depth incubation, and leveraging platforms like the Osaka World Expo to promote integration of industry with culture and tourism. This strategic shift implies that future overseas expansion will focus more on systematic brand image building rather than merely chasing order volumes.