Knitting together a legacy of wool

An ancient town threads its history to weave new trends among talented clothing designers, Xing Wen reports in Tongxiang, Zhejiang province.

Against the backdrop of quaint, intricately arranged old buildings, wooden boats seem to glide on the canal, propelled by gentle oar strokes, while a pair of black swans elegantly accompany the procession, gracefully swimming alongside. Each boat hosts a stunning model displaying exquisite attire, the vivid hues of which are mirrored in the emerald waters. The waterways have been transformed into a unique fashion runway.

Puyuan Fashion Week took place in the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Tongxiang, Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, late last month. This location boasts the picturesque charm of a typical water town of Jiangnan region (south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River), with fashionable elements woven into its fabric. Strolling through the resort, one can spot boutiques, textile exhibitions, millinery shops, jewelry stores and needle felting workshops.

Here, any random corridor, alleyway, or square could be easily transformed into prestigious runways for renowned fashion brands, such as Vera Wang, The Atelier and La Mofiel, attracting numerous artists, supermodels, trendsetters and designers to embrace modern fashion in such antique surroundings.

Puyuan ancient town originated in the Southern Song period (1127-1279). For the past four decades, it has been celebrated for its production of wool sweaters. The local sweater industry stands as China's largest domestic production base and distribution center for woolen knitwear. More than 700 million sweaters are sold annually from Puyuan to more than 20 countries and regions.

In recent years, the town has actively pursued industrial upgrades and integration with the global fashion market. An important initiative in this endeavor has been the construction of Puyuan Fashion Resort, which opened to the public last spring, along with the launch of Puyuan Fashion Week held in the resort.

Since its founding, Puyuan Fashion Resort has become the backdrop for numerous crossover events, including Puyuan Fashion Week, the Douyin Creator Conference and the Zhizu GQ Men of the Year Ceremony.