Misfortunes and blessings depend on each other. The arrival of a crisis reveals dangers but also often contains opportunities.
The impact of the epidemic has affected the entire textile field and brought unprecedented challenges to the industry. In the face of difficulties, fabric companies have mobilized their “desire to survive.” Whether it is strengthening research and development, online layout, or extending the industrial chain, companies are trying to explore industry development opportunities under the crisis.
R&D upgrades to enhance stress resistance
In recent days, in the fabric inspection workshop of Zhejiang Qijin Textile Co., Ltd., more than a dozen fabric inspection machines have been lined up in a row, fully open. Horsepower conducts cloth inspection operations; fabrics are transported roll by roll, and workers skillfully complete lamination, sealing and other processes… It is understood that this batch of 1.5 million meters of workwear fabrics will be shipped on April 6, and will be shipped next. Sent to other places one after another.
Qijin Textile is a company that produces differentiated high-end fashion fabrics such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, yarn-dyed and yarn-dyed fabrics. It officially resumed work on February 12. Full production was achieved on the 20th. “Since the resumption of work, the company’s production and operations have not been greatly affected by the epidemic. Orders have been scheduled until May, and we are now racing against time to make production.” said He Fengjiao, production director of Zhejiang Qijin Textile Co., Ltd.
The outbreak of the epidemic has brought a big impact on the textile industry. Why can Qijin Textile buck the market trend and rise? “Differentiated development, R&D innovation, and intelligent manufacturing.” He Fengjiao revealed the “secret.” In recent years, Qijin Textile has accelerated the pace of fashion textile development, adhered to differentiated development strategies, deeply cultivated high-end market segments, and has been cooperating with powerful brand companies. Under the epidemic, Qijin Textile has grasped popular trends, increased research and development efforts, and achieved growth in production and sales against the trend.
In addition to taking the path of differentiation, Qijin Textile also vigorously implements intelligent transformation and promotes all-round optimization and upgrading of production equipment, process technology, corporate management, and sales channels. In June last year, Lanxi launched the creation of a demonstration city for intelligent manufacturing in the textile industry. As one of the first batch of “intelligent manufacturing pilot enterprises in the textile industry”, Qijin Textile has invested more than 5 million yuan in transforming and upgrading management systems such as ERP, MES, and OA. , purchasing, sales, and production workshops have realized intelligent management… With the empowerment of “intelligent manufacturing”, enterprises are more able to withstand pressure and have more confidence.
Gaogu Import and Export Co., Ltd., which mainly deals in lace, knitted and mesh fabrics, also has new orders. It is understood that the company’s products are exported to the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia and other places. At the beginning of March, the company’s general manager Li Yulong requested that samples of new models sent to American customers should also be sent to customers in other countries and regions. The plan of “not putting all eggs in one basket” has taken effect. While adjusting the export direction, we also started to develop innovative products. Facing domestic and overseas markets, Li Yulong is confident: “Customers with existing business contacts recommend ‘Gaogu’ products in their circles, which is recognition of the quality of our products.” It is understood that Li Yulong’s persistence in innovative research and development makes “Gaogu” products are very in tune with overseas brand clothing manufacturers. A recently developed 3D lace fabric has been favored by many customers. Countless people have come to inquire and request samples. There are also many interested customers. It is expected to be mass-produced soon.
Laying online to store energy for foreign trade
In the past two months, online sales have become the main “battlefield” for fabric companies to expand traffic and pursue sales. It has also become the “attack point” for many foreign trade fabric companies.
“A few days ago, I received an order from an American customer. His clothing processing factory in Vietnam is dedicated to the e-commerce platform. He ordered a total of more than 100,000 meters of women’s printed fabrics with a deposit. Everything has been paid, and now we have arranged for hanging samples and preparing materials.” Shao Lingbin, general manager of Zhejiang Dashu Textile Technology Co., Ltd., said that since March, the company’s export volume of printed fabrics has reached more than 3 million US dollars. Since the resumption of work and production, employees have been busy inspecting, rolling, and packaging overseas orders all day long, and containers are loaded every day.
Shao Lingbin said that many customers who have long-term cooperation with the company operate both online and offline operations. Among the orders received in March, many return orders involved online business. As the consumption pattern of physical stores has changed due to the epidemic, overseas e-commerce has suddenly emerged. In Shao Lingbin’s view, as long as they capture these e-commerce customers and maintain online orders from old customers, foreign trade companies can still survive the peak season. “At present, our design team has more than 20 domestic and foreign designers, and we create nearly 50 original patterns every day. We will also develop patterns and fabrics according to the new product positioning of our customers’ online stores.”
Xin Ling Wu Zhiguang, the business manager of Long Textile Co., Ltd., has also been busy developing the online market recently. “The Alibaba International Store will be officially launched on April 15, with at least 700 to 800 products.” Wu Zhiguang hopes that by expanding the “circle of friends” of overseas customers, he can “accumulate energy” for the company’s continued growth.
It is understood that the company mainly develops and produces yoga fabrics. In addition to being sold to Japan and South Korea, it also provides high-end fabrics to well-known domestic yoga studios. “In the first quarter, the company has made nearly 6 million yuan in sales, and many customers purchased products through ‘cloud’ orders.”��Wu Zhiguang believes that the current overseas situation is changing, and the excellent product quality and high customer satisfaction are the reasons why the company’s orders are still “continuously delayed”.
In the future, with the continuous advancement of trade liberalization and social informatization, more and more trade activities will be carried out online. Some industry experts predict that in the future, many sales will be conducted simultaneously online and offline.
Extend downward to expand the industrial chain
In addition to shifting the “battlefield” from offline to online, some fabric companies are also planning to further expand the industry chain, extending to garment manufacturing.
“Many international brands do not require too many staff, but only need to integrate resources. Our local textile industry chain in Shaoxing is complete and the technology required to operate the brand is The basics are all in place, we just want to cultivate a brand of our own through trial and error.” Wu Zhiguang said that in the face of intensifying homogeneous competition, the company can only win more space by continuously cultivating its ‘internal strength’.
According to the reporter’s understanding, many fabric companies are currently aiming at the production of casual sportswear. “Making fabrics is very profitable, and after it is made into finished products, the added value is greatly increased. We want to build a trendy brand, mainly making some sports sweaters.” A relevant person in charge of a fabric company told reporters frankly about the company’s future thinking, “We have long-term cooperation with Through contact with terminal brand customers, we gradually understood the core aspects of product design and marketing. Nowadays, live streaming is very popular, and we also want to find some ‘Internet celebrities’ or traffic stars to promote clothing products.”
The extension of the industrial chain means changes in the business landscape, reorganization of operating models, and opportunities for product innovation. However, some industry experts suggest that at present, fabric companies need to think more calmly, formulate strategies rationally, and avoid “falling” so that they can have the capital to continue moving forward in the future. </p
