2026/11/06 Back
The Qiantang tides surge, and Zhejiang merchants move toward innovation.
On November 6, the 8th World Zhejiang Merchants Conference was held at the Zhejiang Provincial Great Hall of the People. With the theme of "Co-innovating in Zhejiang, Riding the Tide toward the Future," this year's conference gathered Zhejiang merchants from home and abroad to jointly explore new paths for the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation. Tu Hongyan, Chairwoman of WENSLI Group, was invited to attend the conference and, at this annual gathering of Zhejiang merchants, shared her thoughts on the Zhejiang merchant spirit, innovation in historical classic industries, and brand building.
A blessing-colored scarf that bears witness to the inheritance and innovation of Zhejiang merchants
At the conference venue, the red blessing scarves worn by more than 1,800 Zhejiang entrepreneurs and delegates from around the world became a beautiful sight. These scarves, carrying good wishes, were designed and produced by Wensli. Since the 4th World Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Conference in 2017, Wensli has designed and produced blessing scarves for five Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Conferences over ten consecutive years. The festive Wensli red has gradually become a highly recognizable signature of the Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Conference.
This year's design is closely centered on the theme "Co-innovating in Zhejiang, Riding the Tide toward the Future," with the Qiantang River tidal bore and traditional auspicious cloud patterns as its core elements. The Qiantang River tide symbolizes the spirit of Zhejiang people in braving the forefront and daring to lead, while the unfurling auspicious clouds convey good wishes to Zhejiang entrepreneurs around the world.
Speaking of the Zhejiang entrepreneur culture embodied by the blessing scarves, Tu Hongyan said that it is not merely a silk product but a symbol of spirit. No matter which corner of the world Zhejiang entrepreneurs reach, the courage to venture and experiment, perseverance, and continuous innovation remain the shared spiritual foundation of all. Over ten years of companionship, WENSLI has welcomed Zhejiang entrepreneurs home from around the world with a red scarf, and has also witnessed the inheritance and innovation of the Zhejiang entrepreneur spirit.
A brand dialogue exploring the path of historical classics toward renewal
As one of the important events of the conference, Tu Hongyan participated in the special session "Brand-Empowered Province, Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Toward Innovation," where she joined guests including Xie Xiaoyun, Party Secretary and Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, Zhu Jiangming, Chairman of Leapmotor, and Pan Shuimiao, President of YTO Express, to discuss the contemporary topic of brand building and share WENSLI's 51 years of innovative development practices.
Since launching its digital transformation in 2018, Wensli has pursued technological breakthroughs in three areas: first, using AI to transform design; second, using technology to transform production; and third, using AI to transform the way businesses are started. At present, the company has built a database of 1 million pattern designs. Through its AI design model, a design process that originally took three to five days has been shortened to seconds. Its self-developed waterless printing and dyeing integrated machine, meanwhile, is driving printing and dyeing production toward small-batch, rapid, and green transformation. In addition, Wensli released the TC68 textile intelligent agent at this year's Global Digital Trade Expo, connecting market insights, product design, marketing and promotion, and production, enabling entrepreneurs without professional design or production experience to bring their ideas to life through the platform and explore new models such as the "one-person company."
From building a strong enterprise to building a better industry
"In the past, silk was more closely associated with clothing, silk scarves, and culture and art; today, it can also be combined with artificial intelligence to become a new vehicle for intelligent manufacturing, and with life sciences to expand into new fields such as biomedicine and high-end skincare." In Tu Hongyan's view, the value of silk should not be confined to apparel and cultural expression; it can also extend into broader fields such as life technology.
In recent years, WENSLI has been building a presence in silkworm life science and technology. Relying on its Kaihua golden cocoon base and scientific research partnerships, the company is exploring the application potential of active ingredients from silkworm cocoons in fields such as health and skincare, enabling traditional sericulture resources to unlock new value.
"In the past, we sought to make a single enterprise bigger and stronger; in the future, we should seek to make an entire industry better and stronger." In her view, Zhejiang's historical classic industries—such as silk, tea, and porcelain—possess profound cultural heritage. In the future, it is necessary to leverage technological innovation to lower the threshold for innovation and improve industrial efficiency, and more importantly, to transform cultural resources into brand advantages, enabling traditional industries to enter modern life and go global.
"The times are changing, technology is changing, and the market is changing, but the Zhejiang entrepreneur spirit of daring to lead and braving the forefront must not change." This is Tu Hongyan's deepest takeaway from this year's World Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Conference. From the Zhejiang entrepreneur spirit carried by a red scarf to the industrial innovation extended from a single thread of silk, WENSLI will continue to empower historical classic industries with technological innovation and bring Chinese silk to a broader world.
