Analysis of the Impact of Dralon® Trademark's Return on the Competitive Landscape of the Domestic Thermal Underwear Market

Based on the collected information, I will provide a detailed analysis of the impact of Dralon® trademark’s return on the competitive landscape of the domestic thermal underwear market.

Dralon® is an acrylic fiber brand developed by German Bayer AG using dry spinning technology in 1954. Its core technical feature is the unique double-T cross-section of the fiber (similar to a dog bone shape). This special structure allows the fiber to retain more stagnant air, thereby achieving excellent thermal insulation effects[1][2].

• 2000
  : German Bayer AG sold the entire Dralon business to Italy’s Fraver Group[2]
• Late 2020
  : Fraver Group went bankrupt due to poor operation, and Dralon® officially ceased production[1][2]
• August 2025
  : The former Peruvian contract manufacturer of Bayer successfully acquired Dralon technology from German Bayer AG, marking the official restart and strong return of Bayer Dralon[2]

In the years after Dralon ceased production, the market faced severe counterfeit and shoddy product issues:

1. Severe Concept Confusion
   : Almost all thermal underwear made of non-wool materials are labeled as “Dralon” by merchants[1]
2. Widespread Material Fraud
   : Not only ordinary acrylic fibers are uniformly labeled as Dralon, but even polyester fibers are labeled as “Dralon” by merchants, including many well-known brands[1]
3. Consumer Cognitive Confusion
   : Due to the lack of an authoritative verification mechanism, consumers find it difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake products, leading to a serious decline in market trust[1][2]

• Current Market Structure
  : The domestic thermal underwear market has a competitive landscape of “65% traditional brands, 35% emerging brands”[3]
• Traditional brands like Nanjiren and Hengyuanxiang have long dominated the market
• Technology-driven underwear brands like Miiow have risen in recent years, with 2023 full-network sales reaching RMB 11.8 billion, maintaining a high growth rate of 70% for five consecutive years[4]

• Brands that have obtained official Dralon authorization will gain quality endorsement
• Currently, there are only 3 factories in China with German Bayer authorization[2]
• Authorized brands will form differentiated competitive advantages

• Products officially authorized to use Bayer Dralon must hang exclusive hangtags
• A one-code-per-garment anti-counterfeiting verification system is adopted[2]
• The acrylic fiber content in the fabric must be >30%[2]

• Unauthorized small manufacturers will face pressure to be eliminated from the market
• Factories with OEM capabilities for international major brands will gain competitive advantages
• The raw material supply system will tend to be standardized

• Genuine Dralon fibers adopt a double-T cross-section, with finer fibers and higher bulkiness
• Under the same fiber fineness and weight, Dralon’s thermal conductivity is lower than that of wool[2]
• This technological advantage will prompt other brands to increase R&D investment

• “Dralon-like” products such as Japanese acrylic and Jinshan acrylic will face positioning adjustments
• Brands need to establish their own technical barriers
• Brands like Miiow have developed independent technologies such as “8-Degree Heat Technology” and “Hollow Wing Warmth Technology”[4]

• E-commerce platforms will strengthen qualification review of Dralon products
• Emerging channels such as live-stream e-commerce will face stricter quality control
• Content marketing on platforms like Xiaohongshu will focus more on product certification endorsements

• Brand specialty stores will strengthen the display of authorized hangtags
• The product structure of traditional channel distributors needs to be adjusted
• Supply chain traceability system will become a core competitiveness

• Consumers have begun to pay attention to the acrylic fiber content in fabric components
• Anti-counterfeiting QR code verification has become an important factor in purchase decisions
• Consumers’ understanding of the “Dralon” concept has become more rational

• Shift from purely pursuing the “Dralon” concept to focusing on actual thermal insulation performance
• Fabric comfort and anti-static performance have become new focus points
• Brand authorization qualification has become the foundation of trust

• Brands with official Dralon authorization will focus on the high-end market
• The price positioning is expected to be in the range of RMB 300-800[2]
• Selling points include export quality and international production lines

• Unauthorized brands will shift to cost-performance competition
• Focus on functionality and price advantages
• Market share will concentrate on leading brands

• The official Dralon authorization system will promote industry standardization
• The application of anti-counterfeiting technology will be popularized
• Fabric component labeling will be more standardized

• The crackdown on false advertising will be intensified
• The supervision responsibility of e-commerce platforms will be strengthened
• Industry associations will play a greater role

1. Market Transition Period
   : Authorized brands and unauthorized brands will coexist and compete
2. Price System Adjustment
   : There will be a significant price difference between genuine Dralon products and fake ones
3. Channel Shuffle
   : Irregular small manufacturers will accelerate their exit from the market

1. Increased Market Concentration
   : The market share of leading brands will further expand
2. Accelerated Technological Innovation
   : Major brands will increase R&D investment to form technical barriers
3. International Competition
   : Authorized Chinese brands will gain export competitive advantages

The successful recovery of the Dralon trademark marks the entry of the domestic thermal underwear market into a new stage of standardized development. This change will fundamentally reshape the market competitive landscape:

1. Era of Quality Competition Begins
   : Genuine Dralon authorization will become synonymous with quality assurance, driving the industry to shift from price competition to quality competition

2. Technological Innovation Drives Development
   : Dralon’s technological advantages will prompt other brands to increase R&D investment, promoting technological upgrading of the entire industry

3. Reconstruction of Market Trust System
   : Through official authorization and anti-counterfeiting verification systems, consumer trust will be gradually restored

4. Reclassification of Brand Landscape
   : Brands with authorization qualifications will gain first-mover advantages, and market share will concentrate on leading brands

For thermal underwear enterprises, seizing the opportunity of Dralon’s return, actively obtaining official authorization, and strengthening independent technological R&D will be the key to standing out in the new competitive landscape.

[1] Zhihu - It’s 2023, Don’t Be Fooled by Fake Dralon Thermal Underwear Anymore

[2] Ifeng.com - Official Bayer Dralon Authorization! This Thermal Underwear Is Really Super Warm

[3] SMZDM - Analysis of Dralon Thermal Underwear Market

[4] Xinhuanet - Miiow Listed in the 2024 Asia’s Top 500 Brands