Sourcing Cluster Guide · Textile & Apparel
China's knitwear town — over ten thousand flat-knitting machines running sweaters for the world's brands.
Dalang, a town in Dongguan, is China's best-known knitwear cluster and one of the largest sweater-producing areas in the world. The town hosts thousands of knitwear enterprises and an estimated 10,000+ computerised flat-knitting machines, and is widely described as producing the majority of China's wool and cashmere sweaters — commonly cited at over half of national output. Every autumn the town hosts an international knitwear fair that draws buyers from Europe, Japan, Korea and North America.
What makes Dalang work is the density of specialised steps. Yarn trading, winding, flat-knitting, linking, hand-finishing, washing, pressing, embroidery and label attachment are separate businesses on the same few streets, so a brand can place a 300-piece order and have it knitted, linked and finished by four different specialists without ever moving goods more than a few kilometres. Yarn suppliers stock cotton, merino, cashmere blends, mohair, alpaca, viscose and recycled fibres, and can match a Pantone shade in a week. Digital jacquard programming means a complex intarsia or all-over pattern costs little more than a solid.
The catch is that knitwear quality is invisible in photos and hard to judge on a hanger. Yarn count, gauge, pilling resistance, shrinkage and colour fastness drive how a sweater performs after five washes — and it is very easy to substitute a cheaper yarn or reduce the gauge. Hand-linking versus overlocking, and whether the sweater is washed and pressed before packing, are the other common cost cuts. Lab testing plus a signed production sample is what protects a knitwear programme.
Trial orders typically start at 100–300 pcs per style and colour, with samples in 7–15 days. Bulk production runs 20–35 days after approval. Approve a production sample in the actual bulk yarn, specify gauge and yarn count in the PO, and test for pilling (ISO 12945), shrinkage after 3 washes, colour fastness (ISO 105) and fibre composition before shipment.
21 representative product lines with typical export specifications. Every product below is available through our vetted supplier network in Dalang, Dongguan, Guangdong.
Dalang's highest-volume item — classic crewnecks in cotton, merino and blends.
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG / 14GG flat knit |
| Yarn | 100% cotton, merino 19.5 micron, or acrylic blend |
| Weight | 180–420 g per piece depending on gauge |
| Construction | fully fashioned or cut-and-sew, hand-linked neck |
| Sizes | S–3XL, EU/US/Asian grading |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per colour |
Lightweight V-necks for layering and uniform programmes.
| Gauge | 12GG / 14GG / 16GG fine gauge |
| Yarn | cotton, viscose, silk-cotton, fine merino |
| Neckline | classic V, deep V, or with rib trim 2×2 |
| Weight | 140–260 g |
| Finish | garment wash, anti-pilling finish |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per colour |
V-neck, crew and longline cardigans with horn, shell or metal buttons.
| Gauge | 3GG / 5GG / 7GG / 12GG |
| Yarn | lambswool, cotton, cashmere blend, mohair |
| Closure | corozo, shell, resin or metal buttons; YKK zip option |
| Details | patch pockets, rib placket, contrast tipping |
| Weight | 280–650 g |
| MOQ | 150–300 pcs per colour |
Ribbed roll-necks in merino and cashmere blends for A/W retail.
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG |
| Yarn | extra-fine merino 19.5 micron, cashmere blend 10–30% |
| Collar | roll-neck 18–24 cm, mock neck 6–8 cm, 2×2 rib |
| Weight | 260–480 g |
| Finish | soft-wash, anti-pilling, low-shrink |
| MOQ | 150 pcs per colour |
Traditional cable and Aran patterns, a strong heritage-apparel export.
| Gauge | 3GG / 5GG chunky, 7GG medium |
| Pattern | cable, honeycomb, diamond, basket weave combinations |
| Yarn | British-style lambswool, wool-acrylic, undyed natural |
| Weight | 500–900 g chunky |
| Finish | hand-linked shoulders, garment wash |
| MOQ | 150 pcs per style |
Computer-programmed jacquard sweaters with photographic-level pattern detail.
| Machine | Shima Seiki / Stoll computerised flat knitting |
| Colours | up to 6–8 colours per panel, intarsia unlimited |
| Pattern | fair isle, geometric, logo, graphic placement |
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG |
| File format | STOLL/Shima design file, artwork in AI or PNG |
| MOQ | 150–300 pcs per design |
Premium knitwear using Inner Mongolian cashmere and cashmere-wool blends.
| Fibre | 100% cashmere 15.5–16.5 micron, or 30/70 cashmere-wool |
| Gauge | 12GG / 14GG, 2-ply yarn |
| Weight | 180–320 g |
| Certification | fibre composition test, OEKO-TEX, GCS on request |
| Finish | soft hand-wash, anti-pilling |
| MOQ | 100–200 pcs per colour |
Fine-gauge merino base layers and mid-layers for outdoor brands.
| Fibre | 100% merino 17.5–19.5 micron, mulesing-free option |
| Gauge | 16GG / 18GG, 150–220 gsm fabric weight |
| Properties | moisture-wicking, odour-resistant, mulesing-free |
| Construction | flatlock seams, raglan sleeve, thumb loops option |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100, RWS wool option |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per colour |
Rib, ottoman and jacquard knit dresses for the contemporary market.
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG, 3×3 or 5×5 rib |
| Yarn | viscose blend, cotton-merino, recycled poly |
| Length | mini / midi / maxi, 80–135 cm |
| Details | side slits, belt, detachable collar |
| Weight | 320–700 g |
| MOQ | 100–200 pcs per style |
Short-body and cropped knits for fast-fashion and e-commerce lines.
| Gauge | 12GG / 14GG fine gauge |
| Yarn | cotton, viscose, nylon blend, mohair halo |
| Styles | cropped, boxy, off-shoulder, cut-out |
| Weight | 120–260 g |
| Finish | soft wash, anti-static |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per colour |
Sleeveless knits for layering, a consistently strong export category.
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG |
| Yarn | lambswool, cotton, acrylic blend, recycled wool |
| Neck | V-neck, crew, or button-front |
| Details | rib armholes, contrast trim, patch pockets |
| Weight | 180–320 g |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per colour |
Chunky knit jackets and coatigans with pockets and zip fronts.
| Gauge | 3GG / 5GG chunky |
| Yarn | wool blend, alpaca blend, bouclé, chenille |
| Construction | fully fashioned panels, hand-linked, lined option |
| Closure | zip, toggle, or open-front with belt |
| Weight | 600–1,100 g |
| MOQ | 150 pcs per colour |
Accessory knits in matching yarns to complete a collection.
| Gauge | 3GG / 7GG / 12GG |
| Sizes | 180×30 cm scarf, 140×140 cm shawl, 30×70 cm snood |
| Yarn | lambswool, cashmere blend, acrylic, recycled wool |
| Finish | fringe, rib ends, blanket stitch, brushed surface |
| MOQ | 300 pcs per colour |
| Packing | poly bag with hangtag, 20–50 pcs per carton |
Ribbed beanies, pom-pom hats and knitted gloves for winter programmes.
| Machine | circular 7GG / 12GG or flat knit |
| Yarn | acrylic, wool blend, merino, recycled polyester |
| Sizes | adult 54–58 cm, kids 48–54 cm |
| Details | cuff rib, pom-pom, fleece lining, touchscreen fingertips |
| MOQ | 500 pcs per colour |
| Packing | 12–24 pcs per poly bag, 100–200 per carton |
Soft knit sets, rompers and cardigans with OEKO-TEX Class I yarns.
| Gauge | 12GG / 14GG fine gauge |
| Yarn | organic cotton GOTS option, merino, bamboo blend |
| Ages | 0–24 months, 2–10 years |
| Safety | no loose buttons under 3 years, flat seams, EN 71-3 dyes |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Class I, GOTS on request, CPSIA |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per style |
Fluffy brushed knits using mohair and alpaca blends for premium lines.
| Fibre | 70% mohair / 30% nylon, or alpaca-wool blend |
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG |
| Surface | brushed/teased finish for halo effect |
| Weight | 180–400 g |
| Care | dry-clean or hand-wash, low-pilling treatment |
| MOQ | 100–200 pcs per colour |
Recycled wool, recycled polyester and traceable yarn programmes.
| Fibre | GRS-certified recycled wool/polyester, 30–100% content |
| Certification | GRS, RWS, OEKO-TEX, Higg index support |
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG |
| Traceability | transaction certificates per shipment |
| Weight | 200–450 g |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per colour |
Rib-knit trousers and matching sets, a growing loungewear category.
| Gauge | 7GG / 12GG, 2×2 or 3×3 rib |
| Yarn | cotton, viscose, modal blend, recycled poly |
| Waist | elastic or drawstring, 68–110 cm |
| Inseam | 68–78 cm, regular and tall |
| Weight | 380–650 g per set |
| MOQ | 150 sets per colour |
Chunky knit and cable throws for home-textile buyers.
| Size | 100×120 / 130×170 / 150×200 cm |
| Gauge | 3GG / 5GG chunky |
| Yarn | merino, lambswool, cotton, acrylic chenille |
| Weight | 900–2,200 g |
| Finish | hand-knitted look, tassel or blanket-stitch edge |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per colour |
Decoration services applied to knitwear: prints, embroidery, patches and labels.
| Printing | DTG, screen, sublimation on knit panels |
| Embroidery | up to 15 colours, 3D puff, chain stitch |
| Patches | woven, chenille, embroidered, heat-seal or sew-on |
| Labels | woven main label, care label, hangtag, QR traceability |
| MOQ | 200 pcs per design |
| Lead time | 5–10 days added to production |
Yarn cones and flat-knit panels for brands that knit in their own facilities.
| Yarn types | cotton 2/28, merino 2/30, cashmere 2/26, acrylic |
| Count range | 2/20 to 2/60, single or plied |
| Colour | stock shades plus lab-dip matching in 7–10 days |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX, GRS, RWS, fibre composition report |
| Packing | 1–2 kg cones, 20–25 kg per carton |
| MOQ | 300 kg per colour |
Tell us the products and quantities — we reply within 24 hours with supplier options, sample costs and an all-in quote.