Five departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Action Plan for Cultivating Excellent Textile and Apparel Brands (2026-2028)"

MIIT & [2026] No. 98

Departments/Commissions/Bureaus of Industry and Information Technology, Human Resources and Social Security, Market Regulation, Radio and Television, and Intellectual Property of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities specifically designated in the state plan, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

The "Action Plan for Cultivating Excellent Textile and Apparel Brands (2026—2028)" is hereby issued to you. You are requested to effectively implement it in light of actual conditions.

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security

State Administration for Market Regulation

National Radio and Television Administration

National Intellectual Property Administration

April 30, 2026

Action Plan for Cultivating Excellent Textile and Apparel Brands (2026—2028)

Branding is one of the core driving forces for the high-quality development of the textile and apparel industry. Excellent textile and apparel brands refer to those that establish brand advantages through technological innovation, build brand images with high-quality products and services, and strengthen brand value with cultural connotations. They possess outstanding capabilities in leading market consumption trends and leading comprehensive competitiveness, mainly including supply chain brands, industrial ecosystem brands, and terminal consumer brands. To implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, consolidate and enhance the status and competitiveness of the textile and apparel industry in the global industrial division of labor, and strengthen brand construction, this action plan is formulated.

I. General Requirements

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and all its plenary sessions, fully, accurately, and comprehensively apply the new development philosophy, adhere to the combination of government guidance and market dominance, and adhere to the combination of classified cultivation and coordinated development. By strengthening key elements of brand cultivation, we will further meet the people's growing needs for a better life, promote the construction of trademark brands, create a batch of textile and apparel brands with Chinese characteristics that are widely recognized by the international consumer market, and accelerate the transformation from "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands". By 2028, the competitive advantages and market influence of textile and apparel brands will be significantly enhanced, and no fewer than 25 excellent textile and apparel brands will be cultivated.

II. Key Tasks

(I) Strengthen overall planning and classified implementation

1. Strengthen classified cultivation. Supply chain brands refer to the production enterprises and product brands in the upstream and intermediate links of the industry. The focus is on cultivating enterprises' capabilities in fiber material technological R&D, functional development of apparel fabrics, and high-end manufacturing. Industrial ecosystem brands refer to the collective brand images of textile and apparel clusters and industrial belts. The focus is on cultivating the marketing channel construction and brand shaping capabilities of relevant regions. Terminal consumer brands refer to the terminal enterprises and product brands in clothing, home textiles, and industrial textiles. The focus is on cultivating enterprises' capabilities in creative design and cross-field cooperation. We will establish a textile and apparel brand evaluation system with Chinese industrial characteristics by classification and carry out research on the China Textile and Apparel Brand Development Index.

2. Create distinctive advantages in segmented fields. Organize and carry out the construction of textile and apparel characteristic industrial agglomeration areas, guide industrial agglomeration areas to leverage comparative advantages such as traditional culture, characteristic industries, and border trade, promote the differentiated development of industrial ecosystem brands, and fully exert the demonstration effect of industrial development and employment driving. Optimize the cultivation of innovative textile and apparel products, guide enterprises to focus on segmented tracks and consumption scenarios, and create a batch of supply chain brands and terminal consumer brands. Promote the quality strengthening of the textile and apparel chain, support the formation of quality technology innovation consortia, increase financial support for quality innovation among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and strengthen the standard guidance and quality support for industrial development.

3. Strengthen the tiered cultivation of enterprises. Implement the SME innovation plan, and cultivate more high-tech enterprises, "Little Giant" enterprises specializing in refinement, specialty, and innovation, and manufacturing单项冠军 enterprises among excellent brand enterprises. Deeply implement the manufacturing excellence quality engineering, support enterprises in incorporating upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain and supply chain into a joint quality management system, and improve the quality management maturity of enterprises on the chain. Support the establishment of a brand ecosystem led by leading enterprises and participated in by SMEs, universities, and consulting institutions to provide solutions and docking services for SMEs. Leverage the leading role of the construction of the China Famous Consumer Products Array to systematically promote the construction of textile and apparel brands.

(II) Enhance capabilities in innovation, creativity, and standard leadership

4. Strengthen technological innovation and application. Carry out the "open competition" work for functional textile and apparel fabrics to promote the R&D and application of functional fabrics by upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain. Publish the "Catalog of Advanced and Applicable Technologies in the Textile Industry", promote technologies such as new synthetic fiber processing and biosynthetic textile material preparation, and enhance the technological content and added value of products. Accelerate the development of smart textiles such as smart wearables, smart home textiles, and health care, creating new scenarios and tracks for brand development. Guide enterprises through "two major" policies to accelerate R&D of innovative products and improvement of manufacturing capabilities.

5. Comprehensively improve the level of creative design. Organize and implement the construction of textile and apparel creative design pilot agglomeration areas, guide the agglomeration of creative design resources and the construction of supporting facilities, and improve public service capabilities such as brand creative design incubation. Research and release fashion trends in color, fiber, fabric, clothing, and home textiles, enrich the sources of brand creative design, and enhance the leading capability of terminal consumer brands.

6. Continuously improve standard leadership capabilities. Promote the formulation and revision of mandatory national standards for basic safety of textile products and textile products for infants and children. Accelerate the development of standards for comfortable consumption experience and product quality grading, and smooth the feedback channels for problems in standard implementation. Continuously strengthen the review of standards and constantly improve the quality level of existing standards.

Column 1: Project for Enhancing Scientific, Technological, and Creative Design Capabilities

1. Strengthen the R&D and application of new fiber materials. Leverage the roles of national manufacturing innovation centers and state key laboratories to promote the R&D and application of new materials such as bio-based fibers, functional fibers, and high-performance fibers. Organize research and formulation of standards for high-performance chemical fibers such as carbon fiber and alumina fiber, as well as differentiated chemical fibers such as dope-dyed, easy-to-dye, and composite fibers and their special raw materials.

2. Establish a brand creative design alliance. Support leading enterprises, industry associations and chambers of commerce, outstanding designers, creative design agglomeration areas, and professional colleges to form a creative design alliance, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between designers and manufacturing enterprises, and promote the transformation of design results into consumer products.

(III) Implement intelligent, green, and integrated development plans

7. Accelerate empowerment by intelligent technologies. Guide the release of innovative application scenarios of "Artificial Intelligence + Textile" across the entire industrial chain, focusing on promoting advanced technologies such as AI visual inspection and intelligent quality inspection robots to consolidate the foundation of brand quality. Promote the digital and intelligent transformation of the textile and apparel industry in a scenario-based and图谱-based manner, build datasets and model repositories oriented towards scenarios, and develop general digital tools and industrial agents. Cultivate a batch of excellent-level and pilot-level smart factories to improve production efficiency and intelligent manufacturing levels.

8. Promote green transformation and quality improvement. Promote the "Industrial Internet + Renewable Resource Recycling and Utilization" model to improve the recycling and utilization capacity of waste textiles such as hotel linens. Strengthen the standardized management of industries such as printing and dyeing, viscose fiber, and recycled chemical fiber (polyester), organize energy-saving and carbon-reduction diagnostic services for key enterprises, formulate a batch of textile product carbon footprint accounting standards, and accelerate the construction of green factories and green parks.

9. Vigorously develop service-oriented manufacturing. Use human-computer interaction and virtual interaction to obtain customers' personalized needs, and accelerate the promotion of intelligent made-to-measure through technologies such as collaborative design and cloud design. Connect the data chain of production, supply, and marketing, strengthen collaboration among R&D, procurement, production, and sales, and achieve rapid response to user needs. Promote the deep connection of e-commerce, customized consumption, and manufacturing, and cultivate diversified integrated business formats.

Column 2: Project for Enhancing Service-Oriented Manufacturing Capabilities

1. Improve flexible production and manufacturing capabilities. Promote the flexible upgrading and transformation of production lines and the development of one-time molding processing technology to improve processing capabilities for small batches, multiple varieties, personalization, and large-scale customization. Support leading enterprises in segmented fields to create shared workshops/factories, explore the "platform + sharing" manufacturing model, and form flexible production capabilities for small batches and differentiation.

2. Strengthen demand prediction and response capabilities. Support enterprises in establishing user profiles and demand prediction models to form a market demand rapid response model based on digital decision-making. Guide terminal consumer brands to strengthen the synchronization and sharing of demand prediction data with supply chain brands and industrial ecosystem brands, and enhance supply chain collaborative response capabilities.

(IV) Deepen brand cultural value and the inheritance and innovation of historical classics

10. Increase the empowerment of Chinese excellent culture for brands. Continuously promote the construction of exchange and cooperation platforms, promote the collaborative development of limited, haute couture, and co-branded series products with both cultural heritage and contemporary aesthetics by inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and brand enterprises, and enhance the cultural added value of brands. Support localities and enterprises in declaring textile national industrial heritage, and promote the cross-field integrated development of excellent brands. Promote enterprises and designers to rely on intangible cultural heritage projects to create industrial ecosystem brands and terminal consumer brands with regional and ethnic characteristics.

11. Enhance the vitality of brands in the new era. Systematically sort out the cultural connotations, contemporary values, and market potential of historical classic industries such as silk, and establish a brand cultural narrative discourse system. Create brand innovation experience sites for industries such as silk, and improve resource integration and collaborative supporting capabilities. Strengthen the linkage between excellent brands and key cultural tourism activities in various regions, and support excellent brands in creating city-specific activities and customized gifts.

Column 3: Project for Cultural Integration and Brand Consumption Promotion

1. Cultural empowerment to enhance consumption experience. Gather brand intangible cultural heritage resources and elements, rely on urban fashion landmarks, and create brand intangible cultural heritage theme exhibition areas, show activities, and characteristic markets. Based on the fine traditional Chinese culture and the foundation of national culture, deeply explore the craft value of intangible cultural heritage skills and the aesthetic connotations of traditional elements, integrate them into the entire process of fashion creative design and all links of brand marketing planning, and promote the development of China's fashion industry. Excavate cultural connotations and consumption needs, design scenario-based products and services in a targeted manner, and form a consumption attraction driven by both "cultural core + scenario carrier".

2. Cultivate new models of brand consumption. Organize industry associations and chambers of commerce to strengthen research on new consumption trends, segment consumption scenarios, and analyze brand consumption behaviors. Support localities in focusing on high-flow cultural tourism scenic spots, urban public spaces, and internet-famous check-in spots to plan and build a batch of excellent brand consumption agglomeration areas with distinctive cultural features, rich interactive experiences, and high-quality consumption environments.

(V) Promote global marketing and global expansion of brands

12. Promote experiential marketing. Improve the technical level and application coverage of virtual try-on, intelligent outfit recommendation, and virtual anchors to enhance the sense of gain in brand consumption. Set up innovative product display and experience areas in industry exhibitions and trade shows to enhance consumers' experience of integrated and innovative products. Support localities in creating fashion consumption function areas, attract brands to open first stores, flagship stores, and innovative concept stores, and create launch pads.

13. Accelerate adaptation to international consumer market demands. Strengthen research and analysis of overseas markets, and guide enterprises to form a brand globalization collaboration model. Encourage localities to provide compliance, contract document, and consulting services on financial insurance, laws and regulations, arbitration and rights protection, finance and taxation, and safety and environmental protection for enterprises going global. Support qualified enterprises and industrial clusters to co-build and share overseas warehouses, optimize international supply chain fulfillment services, and improve the efficiency and competitiveness of brands going global.

14. Build an all-media communication matrix. Organize brand story short video solicitation and promotion activities, and strengthen publicity through live streaming e-commerce and content platforms. Support localities in combining characteristic sports events, cultural tourism activities, and the Brand Powerhouse Project to increase publicity and promotion for excellent textile and apparel brands. Fully leverage the role of international non-governmental organizations in segmented industries to tell the story of Chinese brands well and enhance the influence of Chinese brands in the global supply chain.

Column 4: Project for Brand Marketing and Communication Promotion

1. Build a brand construction exchange platform. Strengthen experience exchange and resource docking for textile and apparel brand construction through the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) Spring/Autumn Joint Fairs, the World Cloth Merchants Conference, the Cross-Strait Textile and Apparel Exposition, etc., and support holding international exchange activities on brand culture during international fashion weeks and international exhibitions.

2. Carry out brand story solicitation and promotion. Systematically sort out brand innovation and development results, link up with news media for various forms of series release and promotion, and improve consumer recognition and trust in Chinese brands. Regularly release the development trends of brands in segmented fields of China's textile and apparel industry to provide practical reference and strategic guidance for industry brand construction.

(VI) Create a favorable market environment

15. Build a healthy competitive ecosystem. Promote the implementation of product quality grading, and strengthen law enforcement across the entire online and offline chain. Regulate the operation order of e-commerce platforms, strictly control malicious low-price competition, brushing orders and faking transactions, and other behaviors. Guide enterprises to enhance differentiated market competitive advantages by increasing R&D investment and talent training. Continuously strengthen industry self-discipline and resist irrational competition strategies.

16. Strengthen talent cultivation. Support enterprises in establishing brand research institutes, implement the Chief Quality Officer system, and implement the cooperative training plan for inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and fashion designers. Relying on universities and industry organizations, centering on the development needs of intelligence, green transformation, and integration, increase the training of professional talents in strategic management, communication strategies, digital marketing, and brand internationalization.

III. Organization and Implementation

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will coordinate with relevant departments to strengthen communication and collaboration, timely assess problems, enhance the synergy of work, and promote the effective implementation of various tasks. Support various regions in continuously improving public service capabilities for textile and apparel brand construction in light of actual conditions and characteristic advantages. Promote industry associations, chambers of commerce, and think tank institutions to deeply carry out strategic research on textile and apparel brands and brand value evaluation, strengthen brand promotion and exchange docking, and play the role of bridges, bonds, and service support.