Recently, representatives from textile industry organizations, associations, famous brands and enterprises from more than 60 countries and regions around the world gathered in Keqiao, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, to participate in the Seventh World Textile Merchandising Conference 2024. Focusing on the theme of “Future Fashion Advanced by New Quality Productive Forces”, the participants jointly discussed the sci-tech innovation and open cooperation of the global textile industry.
Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), noted that the industry’s technological innovation ability is steadily improving. Its positive spillover effects become increasingly evident. China has created favourable conditions for developing economies to undertake industrial transfers and enhance local industry upgrades by providing high-quality, affordable textile products, and advanced equipment. The data for 2023 shows that China’s textile machinery exports reached 202 countries and regions worldwide. The process of accomplishing this achievement not only spurs China’s economic growth but also extends development opportunities globally.
Shi Huifang, the Secretary of Shaoxing Municipal Party Committee, shared his views on future pathways for the textile industry, emphasizing that Shaoxing remains committed to balanced innovation, cluster-based development, intelligent production, and international expansion. He noted that the city has made significant progress on provincial pilot projects to upgrade traditional industries, completed cross-regional integration of the dyeing industry, and established the Zhejiang Modern Textile Technology Innovation Centre with high standards and a smart industry platform for textile and dyeing with ambitious goals. It has been fostering industry innovation to strengthen its position as a thriving textile hub, featuring a comprehensive industry chain, substantial production capacity, and a well-established textile market.
The continuous advancement of the textile industry requires a dual approach of innovation-driven and resource-integrated development to achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.
Chen Hao, Secretary of the Keqiao District Party Committee, stated that the goal is to build a high-end and world-leading industry cluster. Shaoxing is clustering the industry chains and scaling up the cluster size to establish a world-class modern textile industry cluster. Meanwhile, Shaoxing has formed a complete textile industry chain, covering all necessary aspects from upstream polyester spinning, midstream dyeing and manufacturing, downstream apparel and home textiles, creative design, trade services, and testing and certification.
During the conference, Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics of London School of Economics and Political Science and recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economics, commented on global economic trade, highlighting globalization as the process through which companies select optimal production locations to reduce costs and use trade to deliver goods and services to markets. He added that trade and supply chains complement each other, with improvements in logistics driving trade growth and promoting global economic integration.
According to the 2025 Trend Outlook for Global Textile Industry released at the event, “Future Industry,” “Green Development,” and “Innovation Pathways” are key industry trends. The report indicates that the sector is achieving technological breakthroughs in advanced materials, manufacturing, and products, blending cultural elements to enhance brand competitiveness, and driving green development through eco-friendly materials, technology, and manufacturing models.
The event also highlighted strategic cooperation agreements, including the establishment of the Zhejiang Workstation for the Patent Examination Cooperation (Tianjin) Center of the Patent Office, CNlPA (2024-2027), a collaboration project between CNMI and Keqiao, a WGSN Keqiao Trend Centre project, and the launch of the International Textile Association China Collaboration Centre.
Company Name: China Textile Information Center
Contact Person: HE Xiaoying
Email:hexiaoying@ctic.org.cn
State: Beijing
Country: China
Website: www.ctic.org.cn
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