From Wholesale Trading Hub to Nation's Leading Production Base: Shantou's Homewear Industry Has a Promising Future

2025-08-30 11:04:21

Forty-five years ago, the spring breeze of reform and opening-up swept through the Shantou Special Economic Zone. With investments and introductions from overseas Chinese and Teochew entrepreneurs, Shantou began producing knitted Underwear and entered the homewear sector. Relying on the "processing and assembly trade" model, the textile and apparel industry rapidly developed.

Wholesale emerged as the vital link connecting production and sales. At one time, Xiashan Street in Chaonan District was one of the nation’s most bustling hubs for underwear wholesale, earning the title "Capital of China's Home Apparel." The Xiashan Market, built over three decades ago, radiated influence driving development of storefronts along major roads like Jinguang Road, Huanmei Road, Guangxiang Road, and Xiahua Road, forming a bustling commercial district with the country’s most comprehensive homewear production and wholesale offerings.

Batch after batch of homewear started gaining visibility here before entering the vast consumer market across China through various sales channels.

Panoramic View of Xiashan's Jinguang Road — Chaonan District's Homewear Specialty Street

After over four decades of development, Shantou's homewear industry has undergone a transformative evolution: from scattered cottage industries to modern factory buildings, from traditional manufacturing to smart production, and from OEM processing to independent brand creation. The sector has given rise to notable brands including Fenteng, Anzhiban, Paibannu, Jiaoke, Jima, Bailun Shijia, Yidalai, and Jingyun, emerging as the nation's largest homewear production base that accounts for 45% of China's total output of underwear and loungewear.

Smart Overhead Conveyor Workshop Facility

As a primary production hub for homewear in Shantou, Chaonan District has clustered over 3,700 enterprises of various sizes specializing in loungewear, establishing a comprehensive industrial chain that spans from spinning, weaving, and dyeing to design, production, and sales, with an annual output value reaching tens of billions of RMB. Notably, eight out of China’s Top ten homewear brands hail from Chaonan.

The 4th Chaoshan Textile & Apparel Expo Gala Opening Show

In 2017, Chaonan District was awarded the title of "National Famous Brand Demonstration Zone for Clothing (Underwear and Loungewear) Industry." And in 2022, Shantou was recognized as the "Capital of Chinese Underwear and Loungewear."

The Reword of China Knitting Industry Association Designates Shantou as the "Capital of Homewear in China"

With a solid industrial foundation and historical heritage, Shantou has planned and constructed a professional procurement base for Chinese homewear in Xiashan Subdistrict, Chaonan District. It aims to become an integrated homewear exhibition and trade center as well as an industrial base, combining production, trade, and commerce under one roof with multiple business formats. This will provide domestic and international homewear buyers with a diverse range of product options and efficient procurement services. With these active promotion of the association, the project is now accelerating its construction.

China Homewear Procurement Hub Architectural Rendering

Construction Site of China's Professional Homewear Procurement Base

In the future, STGIA will dedicate with its vocation and continue to leverage its platform and resources to enhance the influence of Shantou's homewear brands and build a globally competitive homewear industry cluster.