Shaoxing Manufacturing
The global textile and hosiery capital — 65% of the world's socks come from Zhuji. The world's largest fabric market is in Keqiao. Also neckties, umbrellas, and kitchen appliances.
Shaoxing and its county-level cities form the textile and apparel backbone of the YRD. Keqiao district hosts China Textile City, the world's largest fabric wholesale market with 2025 transaction volume exceeding 300 billion RMB. Zhuji produces over 65% of the world's socks and hosiery. Shengzhou makes over 90% of China's neckties. Shangyu is one of China's largest umbrella manufacturing bases. This region is where the world's textile supply chain begins.
For hardware founders, Shaoxing enters the picture when your product involves fabric, textiles, knitted components, or hosiery. If your hardware product has a textile element — a strap, a carrying case, a fabric cover — the supply chain likely starts in Keqiao. If you need socks or knitted accessories as part of a product line, Zhuji is the global capital.
Keqiao (柯桥): China Textile City (中国轻纺城) — the world's largest fabric wholesale market. 2025 transaction volume exceeded 300 billion RMB. Chemical fiber production, textile printing and dyeing, and garment fabric supply. If your product uses woven, knitted, or synthetic fabrics, Keqiao is where the supply chain starts. The market sells everything from raw yarn to finished fabric, with thousands of stalls organized by material type and application.
Zhuji (诸暨): Socks and hosiery capital — over 65% of global production. Thousands of specialized sock factories producing athletic socks, dress socks, compression hosiery, and children's socks. Also the Shanxiahu pearl market, one of the world's largest freshwater pearl processing centers.
Shengzhou (嵊州): Neckties — over 90% of China's necktie production. Also a growing kitchen appliance sector: range hoods and gas stoves, with Robam (老板电器) headquartered here.
Shangyu (上虞): Umbrellas, lighting fixtures, and chemical products. One of China's largest umbrella manufacturing bases. Also strong in advanced materials.
Functional textiles: Keqiao fabric manufacturers are expanding into technical textiles — moisture-wicking, UV-protective, antibacterial, and flame-retardant fabrics — driven by sportswear and medical markets.
Smart kitchen appliances: Shengzhou's kitchen appliance sector is growing rapidly, with Robam leading an ecosystem of range hood and gas stove manufacturers integrating IoT and smart features.
Sustainable textile manufacturing: Waterless dyeing, recycled polyester, and bio-based fibers are being adopted by leading Keqiao textile mills in response to European and American buyer requirements.
Shaoxing sourcing pitfalls
Fabric batch variation is inherent
Fabric from different dye lots will not match your approved sample exactly. Order enough fabric for your entire production run in one lot, plus 10-15% extra.
Color matching across materials requires lab dips
A nylon strap and a polyester body dyed to the same Pantone will look different. Request lab dips on your actual material before bulk production.
MOQs are driven by fabric quantities
Textile factories have minimums based on fabric rolls, not finished products. A sock factory may require 1,000 pairs per design/colorway minimum.
What founders should remember
For any fabric component, start in Keqiao
China Textile City's breadth means you can source any fabric type. The market density lets you compare dozens of suppliers in a day.
For socks and hosiery, Zhuji is the global center
65% of the world's socks. If your product involves socks, knitted accessories, or hosiery, your factory is here.
Visit Keqiao even if you are not a textile buyer
The scale of China Textile City gives perspective on Chinese manufacturing that applies across categories.