Technology "Heats Up" Traditional Knitting Zhejiang Haining "Fashion Socks" Sold 3.3 Billion Yuan

How many processes are needed to produce a pair of socks? Weaving, sewing, hosiery turning, inspection... It takes at least three to five days to complete the whole process on the traditional production line.

Entering the production workshop of a sock industry limited company in Haining, Zhejiang Province, I heard a "whoosh" sound from the top of my head. Without enough time for my eyes to catch it, one sock was automatically sucked into the transparent pipe and accurately "flew" into the sampling basket.

Interior view of a sock enterprise in Haining. Picture provided by Haining Media Center

"After the technical transformation, the factory has used a sock machine, which can save the two links of head binding and sock turning, which is equivalent to saving two workshops at a time. Socks woven in the morning can be shaped in the afternoon." Sheng Jingbo, the production manager of the company, said that at present, the factory has realized the automatic completion of goods circulation, saving time and energy, and the relevant data is more accurate.

The "digitalization" of a pair of socks is the epitome of the transformation of Haining's traditional textile industry.

As an important textile industry base in China, Haining hosiery industry started early and was mainly engaged in export trade a few years ago. In recent years, with the improvement of intellectual property protection and brand awareness, many high-quality manufacturers and sock brands have come to the fore in Haining, boosting domestic trade sales.

"Now, enterprises can take their 'destiny' in their own hands. In addition to the new way of scientific and technological innovation in recent years, after the intelligent manufacturing transformation, the entire workshop is operated by robots, and the product quality has been improved, which has greatly increased customers' confidence in Haining enterprises." said Zhuang Shusong, president of Haining Socks Industry Association.

According to statistics, from January to October 2024, Haining socks industry realized an output value of 3.309 billion yuan, an increase of 13.6% over 2023.

In addition to the upgrading of the industry, Haining has emerged a number of sock brands focusing on the vertical field and boutique innovation. For example, in a local enterprise specializing in small batch and customized baby socks, the precise control of product quality has been integrated into every link.

In the whole sock consumption market, infant and child socks account for a small proportion and are called "difficult orders", which makes many peers flinch. Xu Xiaofei, the director of the company's internal trade department, explained that it was difficult to weave baby socks and the number of single socks was small. From 0 to 15 years old, there were six or seven sizes of baby socks.

"Infant and child socks have relatively rich colors. Each color is a yarn. The more yarns you weave, the higher the difficulty and loss." Recently, the enterprise has a new batch of yarns containing 30% long staple cotton, and Xu Xiaofei is conducting anti pilling test on samples.

Interior view of a sock enterprise in Haining. Picture provided by Haining Media Center

Xu Xiaofei introduced that, generally speaking, the abrasion resistance and softness are inversely proportional. After repeated tests, the company's team successfully developed a spinning process that takes into account the two contradictions of anti pilling and softness.

It is this "difficult order" that has been made. The socks produced by this enterprise are exported to Europe and the United States, and it has established cooperative relations with more than 80% of baby brands in Japanese stores.

With a pair of socks, Haining Enterprise "weaves" a new way under the increasingly fierce market competition. Foreign trade expands overseas markets, domestic incubates independent brands to build competitiveness, and Haining sock enterprises are seeking new breakthroughs in technology innovation, brand construction, market expansion, etc.

(Source: China News Network)