From Loom to Algorithm: How Digital Technologies Drive Quality Development in the Textile Sector

The digital transformation of traditional manufacturing sectors serves as a vital driver for structural optimization and industrial resilience. While the digital economy provides a novel paradigm for economic growth, its specific mechanisms in fostering the high-quality development of the textile industry remain underexplored. This study utilizes Chinese provincial panel data from 2014 to 2023 to empirically evaluate the impact of the digital economy on the textile sector. The findings demonstrate that the digital economy significantly enhances the development quality of textile enterprises through technological diffusion and efficiency optimization. Mechanism analysis reveals that technological innovation functions as a pivotal mediating channel, facilitating the translation of digital dividends into industrial value-added growth. Furthermore, environmental regulation exerts a positive moderating effect, indicating that the promotional impact of the digital economy is amplified when situated within stringent environmental compliance frameworks. Regional heterogeneity analysis further suggests that the promotional effect is most prominent in the eastern region, reflecting disparities in digital infrastructure and industrial absorptive capacity. This research advances the understanding of digital empowerment by delineating its conditional boundaries and transmission logic, offering a refined framework for the technology-intensive transition of traditional industrial clusters.