Honghe sweaters 'dress' their way into global market

Tucked away in the misty folds of rural Zhejiang Province lies a township that could very well be one of fashion's best kept secrets. Each year, over 400 million sweaters glide off production lines in Honghe -- a name that barely registers on most global style radars, yet it has quietly knit itself into an industrial powerhouse with an annual turnover of over 20 billion yuan (about 2.78 billion U.S. dollars).

A stroll through Honghe is like being transported into the heart of a living atelier. Yarn shops, accessory stores and design studios line the streets, while tricycles laden with raw materials zip through the shaded lanes in a rhythmic blur. This bustling scene hums with purpose, a fusion of tradition, ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of quality.

Honghe's sweater story began modestly in the mid-1970s with the town's first commune-run knitting factory. By 1984, the local market was pulsing with promise, drawing in entrepreneurs like Gao Xiaohua, who moved his knitting machines and shop from his home to the market.

His eye for quality -- fastidiously hand-selecting yarns, obsessively testing for color fastness -- earned him a loyal customer base and laid the foundation for what would become Zhejiang 30 Autumn Garments Co., Ltd.

"When I first moved my new factory here, the road in front of the gate wasn't even paved," Gao recalled while pointing to Fumin Road. By 2002, his factory had expanded to an over 10,000 square meter lot, and was one entity among countless others helping the sweater industry in Honghe take shape.

Today, in 30 Autumn's intelligent workshop, workers deftly operate computerized knitting machines, producing intricate patterns and textures that cater to diverse tastes. With collaborative efforts, the company can churn out over 20,000 sweaters daily.

Today, Honghe boasts over 20 large-scale sweater enterprises, creating jobs for 70,000 people and forming a complete industrial chain from spinning to sales.

Honghe's global reach is driven by its ability to meet international demands and make innovations. Shuosheng Apparel Co., Ltd., run by Zheng Youlan, has built a strong customer base in South America and Mexico. She learned firsthand during a trade mission to Dubai in 2024 that local buyers crave eco-friendly materials -- a valuable insight that helped her expand her business.

Honghe sweaters have been popular in the Middle East market for over 20 years, attracting more than 1,000 international buyers to place orders every year, with an annual export value reaching tens of millions of U.S. dollars, according to Zheng.

In 2024, the town's sweater export value reached 609 million yuan, up 20.38 percent year on year, contributing about one third of its total industrial export volume.

The town's innovation extends beyond the factory floor. The platform, Mao Shan Pai, a collaboration between the local government, state-owned companies and the local chamber of commerce, invites overseas trade delegations and organizes international visits for local enterprises. It also leverages AI technology to break down language barriers and showcase products through digital fashion shows, enhancing the town's global presence.

Stepping into the AI studio of Mao Shan Pai, the scene empowered by technology is refreshing. Multilingual digital avatars work around the clock to introduce new products to global buyers, making time zone and language barriers things of the past.

The AI design system can generate 3D models of different styles wearing the sweaters based on a single flat image of a sweater, meeting various needs. The models' postures and lighting effects can vividly display the texture, drape and other qualities of the sweaters.

Mao Shan Pai integrates resources from eight major sweater markets, 10 industrial parks, over 2,000 enterprises and nearly 10,000 stall operators in Honghe.

It provides one-stop digital trade services, simplifying the complex process of sweater exports. With over 10,000 new products released annually and nearly 2,600 registered overseas buyers, the platform has become a key driver of Honghe's international success.

"From domestic and international markets to digital infrastructure and industry integration, we are committed to making Honghe the global epicenter of sweaters," said Xu Wei, secretary general of the Honghe sweater chamber of commerce.