Core Insights - The town of Dalang in Dongguan, known as the "World Wool Knitting Capital," produces one out of every five sweaters globally and is transitioning from a "sweat economy" to a "smart economy" [1][2]. Industry Overview - Dalang has developed a complete ecosystem for wool knitting, including research and design, smart manufacturing, and brand marketing, with an annual production of 900 million sweaters and 28,000 wool textile enterprises [2]. - The local government is actively assisting companies in simplifying trade processes and improving export efficiency, with market procurement exports of clothing reaching 1.097 billion yuan, a 30% increase year-on-year [2]. Technological Advancements - Domestic knitting machines in Dalang are now competitive with imported models, with local machines accounting for 80% of the market share, significantly reducing costs [3]. - Production efficiency has improved by 20% to 30% due to technological advancements, with the time to produce a sweater now around one hour, with future goals to reduce this to 30 minutes [4][3]. Design and Market Trends - There is a growing demand for independent design within the wool knitting industry, with designers now creating 300 to 500 new products each quarter based on market trends [5][6]. - The local design training school has seen an increase in demand for design talent, with over 3,000 technical personnel in research and design, and more than 200 new design talents trained annually [6].

Core Insights - The article highlights the transformation of Dalang Town in Dongguan, known as the "World Wool Knitting Capital," from a "sweat economy" to a "smart economy," emphasizing the speed and innovation in the wool knitting industry [1] Industry Overview - Dalang Town covers an area of less than 120 square kilometers and produces 900 million sweaters annually, with 28,000 wool textile enterprises [4] - The town is collaborating with the China Textile Industry Federation to establish itself as the "World Wool Knitting Capital" [4] Business Adaptation - A clothing company in Dalang has shifted to a "small order quick response" model to counteract declining foreign trade, increasing its domestic sales order ratio from under 10% two years ago to nearly 20% [6] - Local authorities are assisting businesses in simplifying trade processes and improving export efficiency, with Huangpu Customs reporting a 30% year-on-year increase in market procurement exports of clothing, reaching 1.097 billion yuan in the first eight months of the year [8] Technological Advancements - Dalang Town has over 150,000 wool knitting machines, with more than 30,000 being high-end computer-integrated knitting machines [9] - Domestic one-piece knitting machines have become popular, costing less than one-tenth of imported models while achieving similar speeds, with 80% of the machines in use being domestic [15] Design and Innovation - The demand for independent design in the wool knitting industry is rising, with companies transitioning from mere manufacturing to leading fashion trends [16] - Designers are increasingly incorporating market trends into their creations, with one designer developing 300 to 500 new products each quarter [21] - A design training school in Dalang was established to address the growing need for design talent, offering courses and opportunities for participation in national fashion events [23]