Technology is more than a fashion trend for firms in garment city

In the past two years, the industry has upgraded technology in factories as workers' pay started to climb. This has created a business opportunity for the Dongguan Humen International Garment Machinery Market, which is owned by Yu's company.

Since 2010, the subsidiary of Huifeng Industry has invested nearly 110 million yuan in the sector. "Even though the shift is still in its early stage, it indicates a deeper economic motivation as it comes at a time when factory owners are depending more on machines to boost production," Yu said.

There are 16 companies, such as Sanflag Fashion (Dongguan) Co Ltd, Joneaa Jeans Co Ltd and Hong Kong Sky Max Garment Ltd's Dongguan factory, involved in the high-tech automation side of the clothing industry. They have brought a comprehensive range of equipment from high-speed sewing machines, and printing and laser-cutting technology, to advanced production lines.

Nearly 80 percent of the companies specializing in automated production deal with Chinese brands, while the rest have expanded their reach to foreign firms.

Most of them not only sell machines but also lease them out. Their customer base has also increased to include companies from India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Cambodia.

In 2014, Dongguan Humen International Garment Machinery Market sold 102 million yuan worth of machines. "The rising demand for machines is just apart of China's upgrading boom," Gao Yupeng, deputy secretary-general of Dongguan Association of Textile and Garment Industry, said.