Published on: 2026-06-01
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At the bottom, the Spanish site “Modaes” published an article titled “From sewing machines to strategic thinking: China’s rapid growth in the global textile industry.” The article asserts that China has long secured a global status as the “factory of factories.”
According to the report by McKinsey and Rhodium Group, in 2025, exports of intermediate goods and machinery and equipment from China grew rapidly. This indicates that China is laying industrial “pipelines” for the rest of the world.
For the fashion industry, this influence is systemic in nature. In 2025, China announced the full implementation of the “Artificial Intelligence+” initiative, which implies the integration of AI into textile production to maximize productivity. By increasing the efficiency of spinning and sewing factories, China secured its position in the global market for capital goods at competitive prices.
In 2025, trade in intermediate goods from China reached rapid growth and became the main driving force of exports, while ASEAN for the third consecutive year remains China’s largest export market. This means that clothes “Made in Vietnam,” “Made in Thailand,” and other countries entering European stores are produced using Chinese equipment, fabrics, and logistics technologies.
In China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, special attention is paid to the development of new productive forces. In accordance with this plan, China will optimize and modernize traditional industries, strengthening its position and competitiveness in the global division of labor. The plan also explicitly points to the necessity of expanding the supply of high-quality products in the light and textile industries.
China has reduced the technological gap in most industrial sectors, although certain difficulties remain in some areas, such as the production of advanced semiconductors. However, in the field of equipment for the manufacture of clothing and mass-consumption goods, the advantage today lies with this Asian country.
In summary, China is no longer the “workshop of the world,” but has become the “chief engineer.” By 2026, the fashion industry must realize that its dependence on China will no longer be limited to labor force, but largely determined by Chinese innovative wisdom and technological infrastructure. Today, this “factory for factories” is operating at full capacity, and its influence on the fashion industry has become deeper than ever before.
Please note; this information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.