Lucheng’s LAORENTOU Smart Manufacturing Center Project Breaks Ground

On April 18, the core project of Lucheng's Western Fashion City—the LAORENTOU Smart Manufacturing Center—officially commenced construction. This landmark project is expected to be fully completed by 2027 and will become a comprehensive industrial base integrating research and development design, office management, fashion releases, and more.

LAORENTOU Smart Manufacturing Center Construction Project. Photograph provided by Lucheng Release

A Legacy of Innovation: 126 Years of Excellence

Since its first pair of shoes was crafted in 1899, LAORENTOU has embarked on a 126-year journey of dedication and craftsmanship. From a humble workshop to a modern enterprise, LAORENTOU now operates four domestic e-commerce branches, 16 provincial agencies, over 1,500 retail outlets, and has presence on more than 3,000 online platforms, achieving nationwide coverage across all channels. Throughout its development, the company has remained aligned with Zhejiang’s private economy transformation, earning numerous accolades including"Zhejiang Time-Honored Brand,""Zhejiang Famous Trade Name,""National High-Tech Enterprise,""Zhejiang AAA-Level Creditworthy Enterprise," and"Zhejiang Intellectual Property Demonstration Enterprise." It has also been certified under the"Pinzi Standard Zhejiang Manufacturing" program, establishing itself as one of the leading enterprises in Lucheng’s footwear industry.

Smart Manufacturing for the Future

The newly launched Smart Manufacturing Center focuses on intelligent manufacturing, green environmental practices, and personalized customization. It will introduce three key supporting industries—intelligent equipment, intelligent software, and intelligent data services—and create several distinctive application demonstration scenarios. The project aims to build a"3+3+N" industrial system comprising three core industries, three supporting industries, and N applications, driving the intelligent transformation and innovative application of the footwear and leather industry. Once completed, it will become a national leader in footwear and leather industrial applications.

Fostering Collaboration and Innovation

Upon completion, the center will actively facilitate deep collaboration between leading enterprises and academic institutions. It will explore a service model of"joint school-enterprise construction, talent co-cultivation, project co-creation, and resource sharing." Plans are underway to establish multiple school-enterprise cooperation models with prestigious institutions such as Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College, and Wenzhou Vocational and Technical College. As a headquarters base for smart fashion manufacturing, the project will also feature a corporate culture museum, an intelligent production showroom, and a fashion release center. These facilities will cater to diverse needs such as brand fashion shows, cultural exhibitions, and industrial tourism, creating a dynamic matrix of fashion events.

Western Fashion City: A Pillar of Transformation

The Western Fashion City serves as a critical pillar for the transformation of traditional industries and a key driver toward achieving the"dual-million" city goal. Seizing the strategic opportunity presented by the Western Fashion City initiative, Shuangyu Subdistrict has successfully bid for innovation incubators in the riverside core area and secured the establishment of several fashion-related projects, including the Wenzhou Xinzhuo Hotel and Huishang Building. In 2025, major infrastructure projects in the Western New City core area will commence in an orderly manner, attracting leading enterprises and facilitating the establishment of Wenzhou business headquarters. These efforts aim to transform the Western Fashion City blueprint into reality.（Qing Wen）