Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significance of Haining Leather City in the context of China's leather industry, highlighting its cultural and economic impact on the region and its role as a fashion hub for the Yangtze River Delta [4][83]. Group 1: Haining Leather City Overview - Haining Leather City, established in 1994, has evolved from a wholesale market to a major fashion destination, covering over one million square meters [18][19]. - It is recognized as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and is pivotal in controlling the autumn and winter fashion trends in East China [21][17]. - The city produces over 55% of China's leather clothing, with 43.19 billion yuan in output value and 45.27 billion yuan in revenue from 53 large-scale leather enterprises in 2024 [85][86]. Group 2: Cultural Significance and Consumer Behavior - For residents of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, visiting Haining Leather City is a rite of passage, symbolizing a deeper understanding of lifestyle and fashion [15][23]. - The "bargaining culture" at Haining Leather City is a unique experience, where customers engage in price negotiations, making the shopping process akin to a performance art [41][45]. - The article emphasizes that the experience of bargaining is often more enjoyable than the actual purchase, creating a social and interactive shopping environment [50][66]. Group 3: Economic Resilience and Transformation - Despite facing challenges such as declining foot traffic and environmental controversies post-2013, Haining Leather City has adapted by launching over 2,000 new styles annually and establishing a live-streaming sales base [98][99]. - The city has embraced digital transformation, with online sales nearing 20 billion yuan in 2023, showcasing its ability to innovate and attract younger consumers [88][92]. - Haining Leather City has become a hub for over 3,000 professional designers, producing more than 150,000 new clothing styles each year, with 80% of new leather clothing designs originating from this market [99][101].

Core Insights - The article discusses the recent online frenzy surrounding historical claims about the Qing Dynasty, particularly focusing on the identity of Emperor Qianlong's father, which has led to a surge in interest in Haining, Zhejiang, known for its leather market [1][2][4] Group 1: Haining Leather City - Haining Leather City is a significant hub for autumn and winter fashion in East China, with a history dating back to 1994, and has evolved from a wholesale market to a major retail destination [6][8][41] - The market spans over one million square meters and is recognized as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, offering a wide range of leather products at various price points [8][10] - The local perception of Haining Leather City is that it is essential for anyone in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions to visit during the autumn and winter seasons [8][10] Group 2: Cultural and Economic Impact - The leather city has become a cultural phenomenon, where bargaining is not just a transaction but a social event, engaging customers in a complex interplay of psychology and performance [22][25][26] - Haining's leather industry is a significant contributor to the national market, with 53 large-scale leather enterprises projected to achieve a combined output value of 4.319 billion yuan and revenue of 4.527 billion yuan in 2024 [41][43] - The city has adapted to market changes by embracing online sales, with 2023 online sales nearing 20 billion yuan, showcasing its resilience and innovation in the face of industry challenges [43][47] Group 3: Historical Context and Future Prospects - Haining's leather industry began its rapid development in 1992, supported by local government policies that encouraged both collective and private enterprises [45] - Despite facing challenges such as declining raw material prices and environmental controversies, Haining Leather City has successfully transformed by introducing new styles and leveraging live-streaming sales [47][49] - The emotional connection of local residents to Haining Leather City reflects a blend of pride and critique, indicating its complex role in the local economy and culture [49][50]

Core Insights - Haining Leather City is advancing its strategy from "product export" to "model export," marking a significant shift in its global approach to the fashion industry [1][2] - The recent European tour, highlighted by the 2025 China-Italy Fashion Summit in Milan, emphasizes the importance of open collaboration in the evolving global market [1][4] Group 1: Strategic Developments - The collaboration with the China National Garment Association and participation in major fashion events in Milan and Paris showcase Haining's commitment to international engagement [1][2] - Haining Leather City aims to build a global value system for Chinese fashion through a diversified product matrix and open industrial collaboration [1][4] Group 2: Product and Market Expansion - Haining Leather City has expanded its product offerings from traditional leather goods to include cashmere coats and down jackets, catering to a wider demographic and evolving consumer preferences [2][3] - The brand's participation in fashion weeks demonstrates its ongoing investment in design and international vision, merging Eastern aesthetics with contemporary creativity [2][3] Group 3: International Collaborations - Haining Leather City has established strategic agreements with organizations like LINEAPELLE to facilitate resource exchange between Asia and Europe [3] - The creation of partnerships with various international showrooms aims to enhance Haining's global channels and provide a bridge for global brands entering the Chinese market [3] Group 4: Long-term Strategy and Sustainability - The company focuses on long-term strategies rather than short-term explosive growth, emphasizing design incubation, supply chain optimization, and brand cultivation [4] - Haining Leather City is committed to integrating new materials, technologies, and international brands into its ecosystem, enhancing its influence in the global fashion industry [3][4]

Group 1 - The recent National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday coincided with the best viewing period for the Qiantang River tide, leading to a surge in tourism and consumption in Haining, Zhejiang [1][5] - During the holiday, Haining received over 1.95 million visitors, marking a year-on-year increase of 96.2% [5] - The influx of tourists has significantly boosted local consumption, particularly in the Haining China Leather City, where many consumers visited for shopping after viewing the tide [8] Group 2 - To better convert tourist traffic into local consumption, Haining's fashion industry is shifting towards a "small batch, quick response" model, reducing the time from design to market launch to just two months, which is over 50% faster than traditional methods [10] - The introduction of "AI designers" has further accelerated the process, enabling the creation of a new design in just half an hour [10] - During the holiday, Haining China Leather City saw a foot traffic of nearly 420,000 visitors, with sales of fashion items such as leather jackets and bags exceeding 100 million yuan [11]

Group 1: Industry Development - The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is expanding the depth and breadth of collaborative development, focusing on both "hard connectivity" and "soft collaboration" [1] - The region is forming distinctive and resilient industrial clusters through industrial chain restructuring, digital transformation, and brand upgrading [1] Group 2: Apparel Industry - The Gu'an International Trade City has become a significant project for Hebei to undertake the non-capital functions of Beijing, accommodating over 4,000 Beijing merchants [3] - The PRO brand area focuses on building "independent original brands" and provides a comprehensive service system to assist traditional merchants in transitioning to brand operators [3] - Merchants report a more than 30% increase in daily revenue through brand operations, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences towards quality [3] Group 3: Logistics Sector - YTO Express has established a northern headquarters base with a total investment of 3.5 billion yuan, significantly enhancing its operational efficiency [6] - The daily processing capacity of YTO's northern headquarters has increased from 6 million to 12 million packages, with a 20% annual growth in business volume [6][8] - The logistics industry in Langfang has attracted 31 express companies, with a projected 2024 express business volume of 1.72 billion packages, a 39% year-on-year increase [8] Group 4: Intelligent Manufacturing - Dazheng Huajia Technology Company in Langfang is engaged in the production of high-end equipment with complete independent intellectual property rights, ensuring efficient delivery to customers [9] - The company has an average annual sales of over 500 units, with plans for continued investment in technology research and business expansion [9] - Langfang is actively attracting advanced manufacturing enterprises to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and promote high-quality economic development [10]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the successful collaboration between a traditional leather craftsman from Inner Mongolia and a fellow countryman in the United States, showcasing the potential for local artisans to reach international markets through modern technology and social media [1][4]. Group 1: Company Overview - Mengkebao Lide, a 50-year-old leather craftsman from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, has transformed unsold sheepskin into high-quality leather products by integrating traditional craftsmanship with modern technology [1][3]. - The product range includes various leather items such as boots, bags, gloves, and coats, as well as home accessories like car seat covers and horse gear, indicating a diverse product offering [3]. Group 2: Market Expansion - The collaboration with Gadu Di, a fellow countryman in the U.S., has led to increased visibility and orders for Mengkebao Lide's leather products in the American market, demonstrating the potential for overseas sales [4]. - The couple has embraced digital transformation by combining online and offline sales strategies, participating in trade fairs, and utilizing social media platforms to promote their products [4]. Group 3: Future Aspirations - Mengkebao Lide expresses a strong desire to expand the reach of traditional leather products beyond local markets, aiming to share the cultural stories behind their craftsmanship with a global audience [4].

Core Viewpoint - The implementation of the "Knowledge Code" system in Haining, Zhejiang, enhances the protection of intellectual property rights in the fashion industry, promoting original designs and reducing instances of infringement. Group 1: Knowledge Code Implementation - Haining has over 620 clothing companies registered as "Knowledge Code" users, distributing more than 26,000 codes to link products with their design patents [2] - The city has established a rapid rights protection center to assist companies in reporting and resolving infringement cases, with 484 cases successfully mediated since its inception [2][3] Group 2: Designer Demand and Originality - More than 70% of clothing companies in Haining now employ dedicated designers, reflecting a growing demand for original design [3][4] - The local government has incorporated anti-infringement clauses into rental contracts for merchants, penalizing repeat offenders [3] Group 3: Impact of Intellectual Property Protection - Companies report a significant decrease in infringement cases, leading to increased confidence in launching new designs and marketing efforts [5] - A notable shift in business practices is observed, with many companies transitioning from imitation to valuing original designs, resulting in successful collaborations and partnerships [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges and transformations faced by Zhejiang Snow Leopard Clothing Co., Ltd. in the leather apparel industry, emphasizing the need for innovation and adaptation to modern market demands [2][3]. Group 1: Company Background - Founded in 1984, Snow Leopard was once a leading brand in the leather apparel market, known for its popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, with long queues for purchases and a strong presence in fashion [2]. - The brand's historical significance is highlighted by its unique position in the market during its peak, being the only prominent leather brand from Haining [2]. Group 2: Current Challenges - The company faces dual challenges: the "defensive consumption" behavior of the middle class affecting the mid-to-high-end leather market and the rapid rise of live-streaming e-commerce necessitating a transformation [3][6]. - The leather industry is undergoing a profound transformation due to the impacts of U.S.-China tariff disputes, the rise of e-commerce, and consumer downgrading [3]. Group 3: E-commerce Strategy - Snow Leopard has made significant strategic adjustments in its e-commerce approach, discontinuing dedicated e-commerce product lines and implementing a unified pricing strategy for online and offline sales [6][7]. - The company previously launched e-commerce-specific products at discounted prices, which led to a negative impact on brand perception and profitability [7][10]. - In 2024, Snow Leopard aims to enhance its e-commerce strategy by focusing on product quality and service rather than engaging in price wars, with a target average transaction value increase from approximately 1200 RMB to over 2500 RMB [7][10]. Group 4: Product Innovation and Quality - The company is focusing on product innovation to appeal to younger consumers, particularly by developing leather garments that combine outdoor functionality with fashion [10][11]. - Research and development investments have increased to about 8% of total sales, with efforts to improve the breathability and functionality of leather products [11]. - The brand is actively responding to market trends, as evidenced by its quick production of a popular leather jacket style after a public figure's appearance [13]. Group 5: Learning and Adaptation - The company recognizes that traditional experiences can be a double-edged sword, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to modern market conditions [9][14]. - Snow Leopard is committed to internal training and knowledge enhancement to break free from outdated practices and foster innovation [14].

Industry Overview - The leather industry in China has experienced a declining trend in operating revenue, dropping from 14,735.8 billion yuan in 2017 to 10,129.1 billion yuan in 2020. Although there was a recovery in 2021-2022, revenue fell again to 7,986.1 billion yuan in 2023. A slight increase of 3.70% is expected in 2024, reaching 8,533.2 billion yuan, with a further 0.8% increase in early 2025 [1][10][12]. Market Participants - Key listed companies in the leather industry include Anli Co., Ltd. (300218), Haining Leather City (002344), Xingye Technology (002674), Shuangxiang Co., Ltd. (002395), and others. Notable non-listed companies include Wudi Xingyi Leather Co., Ltd. and Shijiazhuang Jinniu Leather Co., Ltd. [1][10]. Leather Classification - Leather can be categorized into genuine leather, regenerated leather, synthetic leather, and composite leather. Genuine leather is derived from animal hides and is characterized by its strength and texture, while synthetic leather is made from PVC and PU materials, offering a variety of designs and lower costs [2][3]. Industry Chain - The leather industry chain consists of upstream raw material supply (animal hides, chemical materials), midstream production (core manufacturing processes), and downstream applications (shoes, clothing, bags, automotive interiors) [4]. Production and Consumption Trends - China is the largest shoe manufacturing base and consumer market globally. However, the production and demand for leather shoes have been declining, with a projected production of 3.4 billion pairs and demand of 2.8 billion pairs by 2024 [8][10]. Competitive Landscape - The leather industry features a diverse range of participants, including large listed companies and numerous small workshops. Larger firms like Xingye Technology and Juxing Agriculture have advantages in capital and technology, while smaller firms are more flexible and can quickly adapt to market changes [14][15]. Industry Development Trends - The leather industry is witnessing a shift towards personalized and differentiated products, driven by consumer demand for quality and sustainability. Companies are increasing R&D investments to create unique and fashionable products [19]. - The integration of smart manufacturing and digital transformation is enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs, allowing companies to respond better to market demands [20]. - Environmental sustainability is becoming a priority, with companies adopting eco-friendly production methods and focusing on green supply chain management to comply with stricter regulations [21][22].