The implementation of the newπ♦ national standard has pβ®rompted enterprises to fε → ocus on the difficulties and pain pointφγs of consumer demand, continuously inc£☆ ≤rease technological inno¥'☆vation, broaden consumer cho¶​' ice space, and drive the entire in★↑×↓dustry towards better quality, betteφ r service, and higher levels.

In recent years, with the emergen≤¶♦₽ce of new fabrics, new p≤∞πrocesses, and new technol↔♣↓•ogies, consumers' demand for clothi←♣ng and knitwear has been contin §uously segmented, and the usage scenar≠©ios have been continuously expa₩‌±★nded. Products that integraε×​te multiple functions such as warmth an∑↓☆↓d cold protection, anti≈♦↑±bacterial and deodorizing, moistuΩ®♥re absorption and quick d"$rying, UV protection, anti-static,♠φ₽ oil repellent and sδ∏tain resistant have em€★↓erged.

On May 1st, the national standard GB/T $≠λ41788-2022 "Multi func®♠‍γtional Knitted Products" jointly λ₩​released by the State Administratio♣ ‍n for Market Regulation and the ≤↓φ National Standardization Administratio ©δ♥n was officially implemented. Wh→♥at issues does the introductio•βn of this standard mainly ∞↔focus on solving? What imp♥ φ↓act will the implementation of the new₩♠₹≥ national standard bring to the mar♣☆© ket? How should businesses and con♦αsumers recognize the new national stanε‌ dard?

Focusing on supply and demand to fi♣←​ll gaps

With technological progres βs, new types of fibe¶λ∑rs have emerged endlessly, and a ©•γ€variety of new fiber tex®$₹tile products have been produced σ$₽using them as raw materials. Tσ¶✘hese new fibers often combine multiple ‍♣≠✘functions, and the clothing made •™<from them naturally has​★ multifunctional characteristics,≠λ greatly improving the wearingΩ‌✔§ experience of consumers.

Entering a Uniqlo store ‌≈™€located on the South Third Ring ↕♥σ Road in Beijing, a dazzl∑ ☆ing array of clothing f≈≠∑eaturing different function₽♥>↑al features is available: AIRism Cool P≠₩ortable Sun Protection Clothing, DRY↑δ'↕-EX Moisture wicking∑÷∏♠ POLO Shirt, Air Feel Lightweight Qui €♥↓ck Drying Suits... It is already summe≤↓r, and many consumers ar≥∑'¶e coming to choose sun pr↕≥≈₽otection products. Wu Pinhuππ¶i, Chief Marketing Offic↔☆er of Uniqlo Greater÷Ω≈γ China, stated that the category o¥ £f sun protection clothing in the mark≥♠et is constantly being s←φ₩egmented and upgraded. Consumer>××≤s' functional needs for sun protec•≠↕tion clothing not only focus on UV proγ α'tection, but also pursue cooling, ₽∏¥quick drying, breathabilit™∞y, and lightness. At theΩ∏↔↑ same time, they have high¥ er requirements for color, hoping to b₩♥e suitable for diverse styles and match≠✔ different life scenarios.

The reporter learned that cl±$othing with two or more λ<functions is currently highl ×β$y favored by consumers in the market.λ↔ The 2023 Tmall Clothing Spring>→∏₹/Summer Trend White Paper shows that th"$∏±is spring/summer, with the ×λβ≥increasing number of travel scenario→₽✔s, consumers' core functional ne×™λ eds for clothing are reflected in ↕ ≤portability and sun protection. The h≠πead of Tmall clothing produc¥≠ts and search operati±♦₽ons, Shuwen, told reporters☆∏£≠ that while the perform•☆ance of sun protection cloth™​•∞ing, wind protection cloth★ ✘♥ing and other categories ha★©s been upgraded, color and style de§€signs have also iterated, re☆<sulting in a surge in sales. Among ‌®§ them, the growth rateα§" of fashionable sun prλ•otection clothing has exceeded 1700%, ↓≥ε≥and the growth rate of shel↑↔​l sun protection hats has exceeded★Ω≤​ 860%.

The introduction of th₹​ e new national standard conforms ¶₽​ to the practical needs oπ♣® f the current market on both su↑¶≠£pply and demand sides, ×✔≠filling the gap in the Ω→λfield of multi-functional ‌λknitted product standards in Chin♥Ω←a. As the main draftin£₩g unit of the new national standard, δδαZhao Juanzhi, Senior Engi↑←→™neer of the Knitwear Brλπ anch of the National Textile Standardiz₽↑×÷ation Technical Committee and M$≥>λinister of the Standard Innovation £ φCenter of Tianfang Standa₽γ±rd Testing and Certification Co., Ltd✔¶γ., introduced that, GB/T 41788-←'2022 "Multi functional Knitted Pro↓↑ducts" categorizes the fuγ♠₽Ωnctions applicable to¶ ♣ knitted fabrics into 20 categories b ✔ased on the current status  ₹÷of functional knitwear and theφδ‌β established functioα×‌nal textile standards, such as w★©armth preservation, antibacteri$¶al and deodorizing, waterproofi♦α€ng, radiation protection, UV protectio↕€n, flame retardancy, moisβ≥ture absorption and quick drying, c©‍ontact instant cooling, etc., and cla↓αφ∏rifies the performance requirement♠£γ§s, technical index eval >uation, and test methσ≥‌≤ods of these functions, This provides<↕ a clear path for the maγεσnufacturing of multi-functional knitweπ↕™↓ar and solves the long-standi"​♦₹ng confusion of having no stan≥¶♥dards to follow.

It is worth noting that clothing ♣£∞and textiles should not only meet the f®↓↔unctional requirements ‍♥•of the new national standard, €£↑™but also meet other indicat™ε‍ors, such as color fastnes$×s, pilling, strength, and was ×>hing size change rate. Zh∑ π¥ao Juanzhi emphasizeλ∞d that the new national standard & &δintroduces "relevant kni¥✔‌✔tted product standards" and uses mul‍↕ tiple layers of standards to form a •↑complete assessment sys♠✘↕ tem for products.

Industry innovation at the rig®₹ht time

In actual production, the innov‍$ation of clothing dyeing and finishing↕‍ technology and additives has also∏δ₽< made the finishing process of textiles™™ λ more refined and diversified, m≈•"$aking it possible to produ™​"ce multi-functional textile product' ≈♦s, which also forces the co≈≥ntinuous upgrading of the standard sy‍  ≠stem.

In the laboratory of Shan₽¶dong Kangkang New Materials Technology•↕→ Co., Ltd., some seemi↑♦ngly ordinary fabrics a÷σctually have unexpected "skills". A €λ÷♥"thermometer" that can be worn on bα​β♦abies, Flexible fibers t✔σ↓ hat can collect phys★Ω$★iological signals... General Ma✘™↓≤nager Liu Chunmei introduce×÷₽¥d: "This silver ion anσ§↓$tibacterial temperature ×↕₩changing fabric can senπ¥♠se the baby is body te☆♣≥mperature. Once it exceeds t∏©he normal range, the pattern of •★the clothes will disappear, achieving wγ≤≥arning function. This intelligent₩✘•∏ conductive fiber can seamlessly ×✔≠αfit the body parts, accurately dete•₩→σct external stimuli, and help σα↔achieve intelligent wear<™able textiles for hu÷§↓man health management." With 8 in®∏≥ vention patents With the acc‌∞umulation of 50 utility model patents, ©₹Ωthese new smart fibers are≈£ constantly moving from materials >βto products, creating greater imaginati¶φon space for the cloth↑∞♥ing industry.

Functional standards are an importan♠γt support for the development a₹₹ •nd application of new fib$§↔•ers, helping to promote breakthroug☆®hs in key preparation techno→®§logies for high-performance f₩‌✔ibers and processing technologies&→‍€ for high-performance textile products₽↑♥. "Zhao Juanzhi said that Ω× εcurrently, most of t♥↕he multi-functional new fibers dΩ‍¥eveloped in China have not y←®≠♦et established identi≤‍βfication standards, which poses g€​ ←reat difficulties for the©≈ promotion and application of new f✘α₹ ibers, making it difficult>¥ to effectively utilize☆★© their versatility. At the same time, t¶♦he same fabric is affecte¥¶≥d by different additiσαves, and various functions ar£αe mutually constrained ↔§β₽and affect each otherδ¶≠☆, directly affecting the qualit♣±¶y of the finished produ®¶ct. Most of the existing functional ₽≈£→knitted product standards→α< are single function assessment and eva§" luation indicators, which are not cond✘"ucive to the deep proces÷Ω sing of products by enterprises and res¶₩∞‌trict the diversified development ∞¥of the industry.

The implementation of the£λφ new national standard has ÷÷pointed out the direction for the smoo ★th and healthy entry of★₽ new fibers into the $₽∑​market, helping enterprises©&'₩ simplify complexity and d✘λ'♥irectly conduct testing an® ✔₹d evaluation from mu$φ≤ltifunctional features, g€₩reatly improving the pract→>icality of the standard. Liu Ch₹♥★δunmei stated that standard"§s are the "wind vane" o₽φf enterprise development♥$φ". Under the guidance of the new nation¶♠≥al standards, enterprises cπγ&&annot stay on the simple superδ≠position of past function♣ ÷≥s, but should adjust and o §→®ptimize from various aspects±₽♦£ such as product positioning, f•≤abric selection, pattern des≥★≥ign, cutting and sewing, d™↑yeing and ironing, etc. This will becom¥☆♥e an important oppor£≥tunity for enterprises to build ☆π☆commercial barriers and iφ$←mprove product compeβ↓titive advantages.

In Zhao Juanzhi is view, the implem≥↔∞entation of GB/T 41788-2022 "Multi func✘™tional Knitting Products" has×'>× prompted enterprises to fo♦<≈αcus on the difficulties, pain po≤​≈ints, and blind spots of consumer ×®demand, continuously increase&< technological innovati≈±σon, boldly improve processes, ∏λ$and actively eliminate th€λΩ e old and create the n↕¶ew. This not only enriches markeφ<t supply, expands consumer c‍♦hoice space, but also drives<± the entire industry towards✘♣ better quality, better service, and •≈✘higher levels.



Green environmental protection favor​׶ed



The consumption and ha♦‍rm of the clothing and textile ₽♦↓≠industry to the envi​→§λronment has always been w₹‌✘★idely concerned. Due to di♦ ​rect contact between textiles≈ε♣ and skin, clothing that is less depeφ <ndent on chemical dyes and focuses ∏↑✘‌on environmental protection ₽ ‍throughout the entire design and manufa"±cturing cycle is undo> ✘€ubtedly more popular. Zha∏☆↑o Juanzhi stated that i"✔✘εn this regard, the new national standa≤♠λ↓rd not only requires functionality, but♠ ∏ also specifies the chemical substance≈€±€s used in the production process and €←the safety of products.

Liu Chunmei, who has nearly 30 yea≤&αrs of experience in the f↕₹iber industry, has a deep unde≤"​rstanding of the changes in th‍ >e consumer market. She told repo™α₽←rters that in the past, mostβ₹ customers disdained fu∑¶←"nctional products andλ♣γ believed that the cost-effecσ<tiveness was not high. In recent×"★ years, with the implementation of tπ‍♥he "dual carbon" strategy aε©₽nd the improvement of con±‌ αsumer health awareness, the market × ≠is acceptance of func​$•tional products has generally incr↔σeased. Green sustainab σ∞∏le development and di• fferentiated innovation have ¥₹become a consensus in the industr<♠→€y.

What Liu Chunmei said Ω₽λ©is true. In order to adapt to π↓‍©changes in the consumer m‍αarket and accelerate the improve→↓≠¶ment of green product su α®∏pply capacity, a large number ε↕of green and environmental♦♦₩₩ly friendly new equipment, material≤€₹s, technologies, and processes  'have made breakthroug'₩•hs. According to the¥♣λ® "2022/2023 Knitting Pro♦♣duct Trend" released by the ✘←δChina Knitting Industry A‍$ssociation, out of the 3™™51 samples applied for ↑∞&↑by 77 companies, the÷δ proportion of enterprises appl↓↑< ying for green sustainabl↕≈e fabric samples exceeds 80%, aγ↕←±nd the proportion of green sustaina™δ••ble products is as high as 66%.

The consumer market also has st•¶rong demand for green environme±♣ntal protection. According to the W✘‌☆®hite Paper on China is New Genera'>tion Fashion Consump↑∏tion, 80.4% of respondent♠♠s are more willing to choose br >β∑ands with environmental conc©±Ω"epts. According to the 2022 China  ≥Consumer Insight report released byφ₹↕$ Accenture, 43% of res>α¶pondents are willing to pay a premium♥♠ for environmentally f→←riendly products or packaging. γ​$✘Liu Yuntian from Shenz ±hen is a securities <'©analyst who works in the financial i ∞​ndustry with strict requiε♦&₽rements and often needs to wea™≈γr formal attire. Liu Yuntian stated ₩↔that he places great importance on f↑≤abrics and is more willing to‌✘> choose products wit™λ¶h natural, environmenta✘↔£lly friendly and skin frie♠γ​★ndly materials.

"Wearing this underwear made ofγα•  seaweed fiber is like applying ​λβa 'facial mask' to the skin." Liu α♥Chunmei told reporters that in order♣↑‍ε to comply with the low-carb☆φ•βon consumption trend,✘‌₹← the company has devel₩¶oped a seaweed fiber. This™≈£★ fiber uses natural kelp an ←↓£d seaweed organisms ε→as raw materials, and after prec§♠σipitation and extraction, its moistur≥∑←£e absorption rate can reach 5©★ times that of pure cotton materi↕₹©al, thereby alleviating proble₩≈∏"ms such as rough and aging skin i"ασn autumn and winter. When it comeδ♦∑s to the advantages of seaweed fiber,€≠✔ Liu Chunmei said, "The industrε≥✘≤y now places great em♥λ$φphasis on reducing the consumptioΩ•n of natural resources in fabricδ ± development. We cultivate 30ε↕♣∑000 acres of seaweed, σ®¥which is like planting trees in the o☆φcean. It produces a large amount↕≥∞✔ of fiber, has high w≈φφ↓ater content, and is e ®∏nvironmentally friendly a™'♦nd biodegradable, which is of great s♣♦¥§ignificance for water conservatio♠ו<n, efficiency improvement, car↔ ↓∞bon reduction, and carbon s‍φ®☆equestration