A sock factory in Haining, a county-level city of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: hainingfabu]

Haining's sock industry sells over 3 billion pairs of socks globally each year. This equates to approximately 7,000 pairs leaving the city every minute, capturing 80 percent of the domestic premium sock market.

Functionality and fashion converge in Haining. At the factory of Zhejiang Zhenyong Sporting Goods Co Ltd, intricate sock designs and patterns are achieved through the utilization of up to 21 colors of thread, setting the company's socks apart.

Xu Minjie, the operating director of Zhenyong Sporting, recently revealed the company's focus on innovation and collaboration with domestic and international brands, which, despite higher prices, has garnered favor among young consumers.

Haining has been making socks for over a century, but it recently shifted towards high-quality products over mass production. This change has led to socks selling for tens or even hundreds of yuan, marking a departure from traditional perceptions of socks as low-value items.

Today, Haining's sock industry continues to evolve, with companies like Yuli Socks specializing in safe and stylish infant and children's socks, while others, like Hepolilo, focus on profitability through research, development, and intelligent production.

Through digital empowerment and diversification, Haining aims to further expand its sock industry. The city's initiatives incentivize companies to broaden sales channels, attract talent, and embrace digitalization, revitalizing the traditional industry and positioning Haining as a global leader in sock production.