DALANG, CHINA, 24 June 2026 – The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) opened its 95th annual Congress today in Dalang, China, bringing together 238 participants from across the global wool supply chain for three days of industry dialogue, continuing through 26 June 2026.
Hosted at the Royal Garden Hotel, the Congress has convened in China’s premier Knitting Village and the world’s knitwear capital, a city that produces one in every five sweaters made globally with an annual output of over 900 million garments. Delegates opened the day with an industry visit to the Dalang Exhibition Centre and Market, experiencing first-hand the innovation and commercial energy that has made this city a global reference point for the wool knitting trade.
“Wool is our work and wool is our passion,” said IWTO President Klaus Steger, opening the Congress. “It is impressive to be here in Dalang, a living demonstration of what this industry can achieve. The discussions and partnerships we build this week will strengthen wool’s position in the textile landscape for years to come.”
In his keynote address, China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) Chairman Sun Ruizhe set the Congress in a wider context of global economic pressure and technological transformation. China’s textile and apparel industry processes over 60 million tonnes of fibre annually and accounts for more than half of global garment output.
On wool’s position within this landscape, Mr Sun described the sector as one that bridges pastures and fashion runways, integrates technology with cultural creativity, and promotes international cooperation. Emphasizing a commitment to resilience and openness, Mr Sun pointed to AI and digitalisation, shifting consumer expectations, cultural identity, the green transition, and frontier science as the forces most profoundly reshaping the global textile industry, and called on the wool sector to engage actively with each.
The opening session also featured welcome addresses from Dalang and Dongguan. Secretary of the Dalang Town Party Committee Dong Tie reflected on four decades of global partnership: “From initially introducing quality wool from Australia and New Zealand, to today exporting knitwear to more than 100 countries, Dalang has become an indispensable link in the global wool textile supply chain. Open cooperation and collaborative innovation are essential to building a more resilient and sustainable future for our industry.” Vice Chairman of the Dongguan Municipal Committee Qu Hongqi also welcomed delegates, reaffirming Dongguan’s commitment to supporting the sector’s digital transformation, brand development, and smart manufacturing.
Vice President of CNTAC Yang Zhaohua called on the global industry to deepen cooperation in the face of shared challenges: “The global wool textile industry is at a key crossroads, from market volatilities to new intelligence technologies. Under these new circumstances, wool textile industries worldwide need to strengthen consensus on sustainable development, firmly uphold open cooperation, and elevate global industrial synergy and innovation vitality to new heights.”
A message from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) was delivered by Assistant Director-General and Chief Veterinarian Thanawat Tiensin, marking the FAO’s first participation at an IWTO Congress. Mr Tiensin underscored wool’s human dimension across the global livestock sector: “Most people see the final product, but few see the story behind it. Behind every fibre is a human story. That story deserves to be heard.”
Day One also featured the launch of the IWTO Green Book, presented by Francesco Botto on behalf of the Wool Sector of Confindustria Moda and lead author Dr Paul Swan. The Green Book aims to define a shared framework for wool’s environmental impact and traceability, and to reclaim the sustainability narrative for wool on the global stage.
“The Green Book is a game changer, but we are only at the beginning,” said Mr Botto. “We must work together to give wool a new life and open a new era for our industry.” Dr Swan framed the publication’s wider ambition: “The Green Book represents the idea that we can reclaim the sustainability narrative for wool. Wool’s story should not be dictated by what others say, or misrepresented. The Green Book contributes to a positive change in how livestock and products like wool are perceived in the world.”
Over the coming two days, delegates will engage with a comprehensive programme spanning Chinese industry innovations, sustainability initiatives, market intelligence, wool interiors, and retail and fashion perspectives.
Media Contact:
Jeannette Cook, IWTO Communications Manager, email iwto@iwto.org
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