Digitalleadership fashionupgrading—2022International SustainableFashion ForumonAdvancedFunctional Fibers

Edited by Zhao Xinhua

As the f ield with the most comprehensive development of scale, intensif ication and integration, f iber is the corner—stone for China to become a strong textile power, and also the key to lead the future development of the industry. Un—der the new pattern of the reshaping of the digital economy,it is particularly important to promote the digital transfor—mation of the industry from the f iber source and drive high—end, green and fashionable with digital intelligence to build a f iber industrial chain and supply chain with stronger innova—tion and higher value—added.

On July 28, “2022 International Sustainable Fashion Forum on Advanced Functional Fibers” was held in Shengze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City. Th is Forum is focused on the theme of “Digital Leadership Fashion Upgrade”, from the four dimensions of diversity, foresight, orientation and leadership, to discuss how to seize the development oppor—tunities of new materials, promote the transformation of industrial value of digital technology from the f iber source,explore the digital development new path, and create world—class high—end silk textile industry innovation cluster of energy.

Shen Chunrong, member of the Standing Committee of Wujiang District Committee of Suzhou City, deputy head of the District People’s Government, secretary of the Party Working Committee of Wujiang High—tech Zone, secretary of the Party Working Committee of Shengze Town and secretary of the Party Working Committee of Eastern Silk Market China, pointed out in his speech that Shengze Town follows the trend of digital development and gives full play to the silk textile industry in the whole chain integration advantages. With the advantages of three “100 billion” in—dustrial foundation and the engines of two “Fortune Global 500” leading enterprises, Shengze Town deployed the in—novation chain around the industry chain, and focused on the key direction of functional f ibers, solved the key tech—nology, broke the international monopoly, expanded the industrial application of advanced functional f iber through industry—university—research cooperation and cultivated a new economic growth point. He also pointed out that Shengze Town is focusing on building a demonstration zone for transformation and upgrading of traditional indus—tries, deepening the transformation of intellectual property,accelerating the building of a new material industrial park and a digital science and technology park, and making every eff ort to build a world—class high—end silk and textile industry innovation cluster with more international com—petitiveness and influence.

“As a pioneer in the construction of world—class ad—vanced textile industrial cluster, Shengze has unique ad—vantages in the manufacturing of new fiber materials and the development of new products.” Zhu Meifang, acade—mician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, said in a new round of technological revolution and industrial revolution, China’s fiber material industry is taking high—quality development as the guidance, through the multidisciplinary and multi—field integration innovation of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technol—ogy, advanced manufacturing technology, etc., to enrich itself and drive industrial transformation and upgrading,and support China take the lead in the increasingly fierce international competition.

Sun Ruizhe, president of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation and president of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, said in his speech that “a piece of silk” has contributed to the local legend and wealth story of Shengze. In the new era, Shengze drives the industrial development with source innovation and becomes the leader in the field of new fiber materi—als in China. Digital economy is the only way to empower fiber material industry innovation. The industry should be guided by the concept, do well and achieve good results,strengthen the application of digital frontier technology in the discovery and design of fiber materials, and keep the industry forward—looking, innovative and leading; we should base on reality, progress and symbiosis, and rely on the digital reconstruction of innovation system, manufacturing system and management system to achieve quality improvement, variety renewal and brand forging, so as to better serve the frontier of science and technology, consumption upgrad—ing and major demands. We should strengthen coordination and opening—up, promote the gathering and sharing of information, knowledge and other resources.”

In the theme conference, Academician Xu Weilin and Chief Techni—cal Consultant of Microsoft (China) Co., Ltd. Guan Zhen gave speeches respectively on the industry development trend and development path.Li Binhong, director of the National Textile Product Development Center,presided over the conference.

Academician Xu Weilin delivered a keynote speech from four aspects:the trend of China’s textile industry, the status quo of textile fiber materi—als, the application of textile fiber materials, and the power of technology for brand development.

“High quality, digitalization, advanced manufacturing, industrial clusters, disruptive technologies and cutting—edge enterprises” Guan Zhen summarized five key points towards intelligent manufacturing in his speech “Digitalization Path and Choice of Textile Enterprises”.

In the session of “Digital Intelligence Dialogue: Party A and Party B in Digital Innovation Practice”, Sun Nan, executive president of Bailan Smart Technology/deputy general manager of Business Development of Baidu Smart Cloud Smart Industry Division, Dong Song, sales director of Style3D Lingdi Technology in East China, Long Fangsheng, general manager of Zhejiang Mizuda Textile Dyeing and Printing Technology Co., Ltd., Zhou Juan, founder of Wujiang Flying Textile Co., Ltd., and He Shengjun, director of Industrial Internet Division of Shandong Zhink New Materials Co., Ltd., shared and discussed the practical experience of digital transformation and the key ele—ments of successful digital transformation from the perspective of supply and demand.

In the innovation forum, experts from industry consulting institutions, domestic textile and garment enterprises, and digital technology enterprises shared and discussed brand product development, consumer trends, intelligent manufacturing, digital marketing,marketing strategies and other aspects. Li Bo, deputy director of China Textile Information Center, presided over the forum.

In the market of new consumer marketing, the first step to win growth is to understand the essence of prod—uct development and identify the direction of product in—novation. Chen Baojian, chief engineer of National Textile Product Development Center, thoroughly analyzed the deeper key of product development from the brand sales growth in “2022 Brand Product Development New Fo—cus”; from the perspective of innovation, price, commu—nication and emotion to explain the mystery behind the brand breakthrough growth; from the analysis of fashion brand products, functional brand products and sustain—able brand products to interpret the active consumer demand in the front line of the trend, and to provide en—terprises with the advance product development advice.

In the sharing of “Fiber & Product Consumption Trend in the New Era”, Qi Mei, director of Fashion Trend Department of China Textile Information Center, focused on consumer demand and industry hot points, and sys—tematically sorted out the consumption trend of fiber and product. It provides reference for the innovation and de—velopment of product planning and design and material application. She stressed that a high level of consumer recognition of a product’s “functionality and experience”was key to forming a product’s core value.

In “Jingyi Vortex Spinning Digital Factory Sharing”,Chen Lu, general manager of Wujiang Jingyi Special Fiber Co., Ltd., combined with enterprise practice cases,deeply analyzed the upgrading road of cotton spinning intelligent manufacturing.

Yao Dongping, general manager of Wujiang Deyi Fashion Fabric Co., Ltd., made a comprehensive analysis of the concerns and digital transformation of future dyeing and printing in his speech“Dyeing and Printing Intelligent Transformation Path”.

In the speech “Opportunities and Challenges of the Textile and Ap—parel Industry in the Era of Big Data”, Yang Renjun, senior vice president of Hangzhou Zhiyi Technology Co., Ltd. analyzed the opportunities and challenges facing the textile and apparel industry at present, and pro—posed effective solutions to the pain points of enterprises. Zhao Ming,senior engineer of clothing material research and development of 361°(China) Co., Ltd., explained the path and measures of digital transforma—tion of enterprises from the perspective of the downstream industry in his speech “Breaking the Game — Digital Reform”.

The award ceremony of “2021 China National Textile and Apparel Council Product Development Contribution Award” was held parallel to the conference. 66 enterprises including Dezhou Huayuan Eco—Technol—ogy Co., Ltd. won the honorary title of “2021 China National Textile and Apparel Council Product Development Contribution Award”. China Textile City Construction Management Committee in Keqiao District of Shaoxing City won the honorary title of “2021 China National Textile and Apparel Council Product Development Promotion Award”.

In the newly unveiled “Digital Fashion Exhibition Area” of the forum,the latest featured fiber, fabric and garment products of 9 enterprises in the national textile product development base are presented.

In addition, Zhejiang Lingdi Digital Technology Co., Ltd. showed 3D textile laboratory, Style3D Cloud platform (3D research and development process collaboration platform), Style3D Studio (3D digital modeling and design software), Style3D (3D digital fabric processing software) and other digital tools in the exhibition area, attracting a large number of en—terprises to experience on the spot.