Another local enterprise, the Beyond Group, turned its idle workshops into an incubator for garment and internet startups. 

So far, 63 companies have been set up there, including nine clothing brands-seven of which achieve annual sales of 100 million yuan each. The group is also looking into seed and angel funding. 

By doing so, Beyond Group chairman Rong Juchuan has successfully redefined his company as a platform for innovation instead of a garment and textile company. 

While Ningbo may not be as well known for nurturing design talent as major cities like Beijing or Hangzhou, the company is setting up internships for university and vocational school students. 

The group is also exploring ways to expand their product ranges, by exploring niche markets like denim wear for motorcycle lovers, after successfully developing a range of lounge wear. 

Some firms prefer to tap the potential of international markets. Zhou Huiming started his cashmere fabrics business focused on the North American market in Canada in 2003 and later entered the garment retail field after purchasing a local brand there.

In 2007, Zhou returned to his hometown of Ningbo and founded Yachu Fashion Co Ltd, establishing him as a garment manufacturer. In 2012, he finally started his own suit brand Nikky based in New York. Zhou and renowned Italian tailor Francesco Pecoraro plan to launch a tailoring school to leverage Pecoraro's technical know-how.

The future of the textile and garment industry in Ningbo depends on innovation in technology, management and ideas, says Yang. 

And according to Ningbo's Party secretary Zheng Shanjie, the city's fashion, textile and garment sector is one of the key industrial clusters that the city is aiming to cultivate through investment over the next six years.