Introduction

Lithuanian apparel and textile industry has long and deep traditions. In the past Lithuania was the main supplier of apparel and textiles all around the former Soviet Union. After joining the EU all factories in Lithuania were privatized and used to learn to work under new open market conditions. Some factories were bought by local or foreign, mainly Scandinavian, investors. Most of the sewing companies, because of a relatively cheap labor costs and convenient geographical location, switched on a sub-contracting work for the major European and US brands like Next, Laura Ashley, Hugo Boss, H & M, Mark & Spencer, Nike, Decathlon and others. Lithuania had quickly got a name of a flexible and high quality production country...

New winds

A team up of experienced production managers, newly born designers and marketing people enabled Lithuanian companies to create original and unique products which have successfully found their place in European, Russian and US retail shops, hotels, restaurants and homes. Lithuanian brands in ecological textile have quickly found their customers in Finland. The brand like SwanPh has sailed the Atlantics and is being presented in the best showrooms of New York.

Another success of our companies is the interior textile from linen, other ecological and organic materials. Products of these companies are already on the Scandinavian, French, Russian and other markets.

Export to CIS markets

Trade with Russia and other CIS countries deserves a separate corner in our industry presentation. The export of Lithuanian clothing and textile to Russia has been continuously growing. Our companies efficiently exploit the benefits of historical neighborhood with Russia, networks, ability to speak in Russian and understand their mentality.

All this has already built in a record of the highest Baltic textile quality in the Russian consumers’ memory. Underwear, knitwear, fur, fabrics and some fashionable clothing have successfully found their clients in the big Russian market.

Education base

A strong education base is one the cornerstones of the Lithuanian apparel and textile sector. Young, proactive and well educated people is our future! Our association is closely cooperating with ‘Kaunas technological university’, ‘Vilnius college of design’, ‘Vilnius design school’ and other institutions that keep lighting up new and new starts of the Lithuanian textile community.

Some statistics

According to the Eurostat data, Lithuania is one of the most specialized countries in apparel and textile industry in EU. Being relatively a small country with only 3.45 million people, Lithuanian clothing and textile companies employ around 40.000 professionals who generates over €1 billion every year. It is one of the largest export sectors in Lithuania which exports about 80% of its products and services.