Every winter, millions of shoppers in Europe, North America and Australia pull on a sweater without knowing where it came from. There is a good chance it was made in Dalang, a small town in Dongguan, Guangdong, that produces roughly one in every five sweaters sold worldwide. Among the hundreds of knitting factories in this town, one family business has been quietly building its name since 1994: DG Jiayan, officially known as Dongguan Jiayan Woolens Co., Ltd.
For fashion brands, online retailers and independent designers looking for a dependable sweater partner in China, DG Jiayan is a name worth knowing.
From a Small Womenswear Workshop to a Full-Service Factory
DG Jiayan started out making womenswear knitwear in the mid-1990s. Over the years, the family behind the business expanded into men’s sweaters, children’s knitwear, plus-size styles and accessories such as scarves, gloves, beanies, ponchos and shawls. Today the company describes itself as a complete custom knitwear manufacturer, handling everything from design and sampling to bulk production and shipping.
The factory reports a team of more than 120 people and says it has worked with over 800 clients in more than 50 countries, including the United States, Australia, Germany, France and Switzerland. It also lists fast-fashion names such as SHEIN and H&M among the brands it has worked with. DG Jiayan is a member of the Dongguan Wool and Textile Industry Association, which links it closely to the wider Dalang knitting community.
What DG Jiayan Makes
The product range covers almost every type of knitted garment a fashion label might need:
- Women’s and men’s pullovers and cardigans
- Knitted dresses, skirts and pants
- Organic cotton sweaters for children
- Plus-size knitwear
- Ugly Christmas sweaters and seasonal designs
- Scarves, gloves, beanies, ponchos and shawls
On the technical side, the factory works across a wide range of gauges, from chunky 1.5gg knits to fine 18gg pieces. Pattern options include jacquard, intarsia, cable, lace, embroidery and print. Machinery comes from Stoll in Germany, Shima Seiki in Japan and Cixing in China, which allows the team to handle both simple basics and complex fashion designs.
Materials That Match Today’s Buyers
Brands today want more than a good-looking sweater. They want to know what it is made of. DG Jiayan works with cashmere, merino wool, mohair, alpaca, silk, organic cotton, traceable viscose and recycled yarns, as well as blends for brands that need a lower price point. For premium merino wool knitwear, the factory highlights the fibre’s breathability, temperature control and biodegradable nature, all points that matter to eco-conscious shoppers.
Certifications That Give Buyers Confidence
When a Western brand chooses a factory overseas, compliance is often the first question. DG Jiayan holds BSCI certification, which covers social responsibility and working conditions, and its fabrics and dyes meet the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which tests textiles for harmful substances. The company also holds its own import and export rights, so buyers deal with the factory directly rather than through a middleman.
How Working With DG Jiayan Works
For a brand placing its first order, the process is straightforward. The client shares a tech pack, sketch, reference photo or existing sample. DG Jiayan develops a sample, and for high-end cashmere pieces it can prepare a knitdown first so the client can check yarn and stitch before the full sample is made. Once the sample is approved, bulk production begins.
The factory says its monthly capacity is around 60,000 pieces and can be adjusted to buyer needs. Finished orders ship by air in roughly 3 to 7 days or by sea in about 35 to 40 days, depending on the destination. Free samples are offered, which lowers the risk for smaller labels testing a new supplier.
This flexibility is one reason several industry roundups have included DG Jiayan in their lists of recommended sweater manufacturers, pointing to its customization options and suitability for small and mid-sized brands.
Why Dalang Matters
Location plays a big part in DG Jiayan’s story. Dalang has grown into one of the world’s most important knitwear clusters, with yarn markets, dye houses, linking workshops and finishing specialists all within a short drive of each other. In recent years the town has been moving from labour-heavy production towards smarter, technology-driven manufacturing. For a factory like DG Jiayan, this means faster access to new yarns, quicker sampling and shorter lead times for clients.
Who DG Jiayan Is Best For
Based on its range and services, DG Jiayan is a strong fit for:
- Startup fashion labels that need a factory willing to work with smaller quantities and help with development
- Online retailers building private-label knitwear collections
- Independent designers who want complex patterns such as intarsia or jacquard done properly
- Established brands looking for a certified second supplier in China
The Bottom Line
Finding the right sweater factory can make or break a fashion collection. With three decades of experience, recognised certifications, a wide material library and a base in the heart of China’s sweater industry, DG Jiayan offers brands a practical route to quality knitwear. Buyers looking for a custom knit sweater manufacturer in China can contact the team directly through the company website to discuss designs, samples and timelines.
