The digital transformation of the textile industry is entering a new phase—from sporadic pilot projects to deep, system-wide integration. The 2026 Textile Industry Digitalization Conference held on May 7 in Keqiao, Zhejiang, clearly signaled this shift.
Three Core Tracks for Transformation
The conference identified three key tracks: digitalization of dyeing and printing enterprises, AI-based fabric inspection, and end-to-end enterprise digital upgrades. These choices are strategic: dyeing is energy-intensive and polluting; fabric inspection relies heavily on manual labor, facing recruitment difficulties and high error rates; and full-process digitalization is essential to break down data silos across design, production, and trade.
Yan Yan, Vice President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, proposed that for the 15th Five-Year Plan, the industry must accelerate AI deployment by building a "textile smart large model" alongside vertical small models. This signals a move beyond generic AI tools toward systems that understand yarn, fabric, and dye characteristics.
Keqiao as a Model: From Single-Point to System Integration
As one of the world's largest textile trading hubs, Keqiao's digital path sets a benchmark. Sun Weigang, Deputy Secretary of the China Textile City Party Committee, outlined the "1+4+N" intelligent system, driving digitalization across market transactions, information release, trend analysis, and supply chain services. Keqiao is also building a "live streaming + platform + cross-border e-commerce + overseas warehouse" digital trade chain.
The underlying logic: digitalization must extend beyond factory floors to trade and services to form a closed loop. For other clusters, Keqiao offers a replicable system integration model.
AI Fabric Inspection: From Teachable Systems to Industry Standards
The bottleneck of manual inspection is pushing the industry toward tech alternatives. Shanghai Kaiqian Intelligent Technology showcased a "teachable" self-learning AI vision system that integrates with production management systems to boost detection efficiency and defect recognition accuracy. Nantong Julian Digital Technology launched AI solutions for online defect alerts, warp/weft density monitoring, and production anomaly detection.
However, challenges remain. Luo Yucheng, Deputy GM of Shaoxing Keqiao Weaving & Dyeing Industry Brain, noted difficulties in algorithm adaptation for complex fabrics and high implementation costs for SMEs. Chen Baojian, Deputy Director of the Textile Product Development Center, suggested building a unified defect standard database to support AI inspection's ecosystem.
SME Digitalization: Low-Cost, Fast-Result Path
For large enterprises, digitalization is a strategic investment; for SMEs, it often poses survival challenges. Hu Song, Director of the China Textile Information Center, proposed a five-step method: diagnose status, select scenarios, supplement data, run pilots, and expand capabilities. He emphasized that SMEs should start with the most painful scenarios, clearest data, and most measurable benefits, using "small-cut applications" to drive "big ecosystem transformation."
Wang Rong, CEO of Shaoxing Getakesi Textile Technology, shared a low-code platform approach for full-process digitalization in trading companies, offering a lightweight, iterable path for small and medium textile traders. This "small-step-fast-run" strategy may suit most textile firms' current financial and capability realities better than a one-size-fits-all solution.
Deep Integration of Green and Digital
Digitalization and green manufacturing are converging. Hangzhou Huanyu Digital Smart Technology showcased its TDSD low-carbon digital dyeing process, using self-developed inkjet equipment, new ink materials, and AI color management to achieve nearly 99% water savings, 33% carbon reduction, and 21% chemical reduction. This is not just a tech breakthrough; it means digitalization can directly translate into green competitiveness.
Yan Yan also called for building a carbon footprint tracking model across the entire supply chain, driving the industry toward a traceable, circular sustainable model. For foreign trade companies, this directly impacts meeting green access requirements in markets like the EU.