The future of the functional clothing and textile industry in Lithuania must develop together with the state and the EU, says Kęstutis Daukšys, President of the Lithuanian Apparel and Textile Industry Association (LATIA). According to him, this industry is constantly facing various challenges, such as rising labor costs, competition with Asian countries, unfavorable government regulation and environmental challenges.

What can we say about the COVID pandemic and other major challenges when we reevaluate last year; what lessons did the clothing and textile business learn, what has proved its worth, has become relevant; what kinds of challenges await the businesses of the sector in the coming years - the President of Lithuanian Apparel and Textile Industry Association (LATIA) Kęstutis Daukšys speaks about these issues in the interview below.

UAB “Vitameda”, a manufacturer and supplier of workwear and personal protective equipment, has renewed, reoriented and created a new line after closing the production workshop several times during the first quarantine. According to the head of the company Kęstutis Jocius, the future of the entire clothing and textile sector will depend on Lithuanian politics and the openness of the world's countries borders. In addition, staff shortages are becoming a particularly sensitive issue.

It is the time where more and more people focus on sustainable, natural, and renewable resources including clothes & shoes. We would like to present all companies and their products participating in the cluster.

The quarantine period for UAB “LTM garments”, which currently manufactures women's and men's clothing and other products, was not easy - it had to reduce the number of employees and adapt to new working conditions.

The textile sector is especially important for the Lithuanian economy. Although this sector has been declining recently in the country’s economy, it remains a very important part of the industry. Textiles, on the other hand, are undergoing a strong transformation around the world. Although the structure of this sector is dominated by classic products, which are intended for a wide range of consumers, the need for products that require modern science and various technological knowledge is constantly growing.

UAB Vitameda manufactures workwear and personal protective equipment. During the quarantine, the company decided to modernize its existing systems and increase its production facilities. Production mechanisms have been upgraded 100 percent. This made it possible to automate some of the processes - to produce faster and with higher quality.

The clothing and textile industry has long-lasting traditions throughout the European Union and is still recognized as one of the most important industries in some countries. Textile and clothing are diversified sector that plays a crucial role in the European manufacturing industry. The sector employs 1.7 million and has a turnover of EUR 166 billion. This industry sector has undergone radical changes in order to maintain its competitiveness and move towards high value-added products.

Eugenija Galkauskienė, the director of E. Galkauskienė's company Eustilija, states that the sewing area was hit very hard by the pandemic and the whole period was extremely difficult. During this period, the company faced a drop in orders, an outbreak of COVID-19, and began developing tools to manage the outbreak.

UAB Šilta mada, established a decade ago, like other companies, faced considerable difficulties during the pandemic. Be that as it may, the company team has led to adapting to changing market conditions and customer needs by creating new collections.

Astra Gintautaitė, the head of UAB “Šilta mada”, states that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of losses, but encouraged the creation of new collections. In her opinion, as people spend more time at home, the types of clothes and accessories have changed significantly.

During the pandemic, UAB “Sabalin”, a company engaged in footwear production, modeling, wholesale and retail trade, faced the same problems as other companies engaged in similar activities - the number of orders fell, the production of materials fell, logistical problems arose, and the scale of work activities had to be reduced.

Gintarė Jurašytė - Šukienė, head of MB “Dizaino vėjas”, which manages the “siLversands” brand, states that during the pandemic it was necessary to slow down the production processes and move in a more stable direction. During this period, the company monitored and analyzed the market and improved processes.

Pollution processes, over-consumption, waste – it‘s all fast fashion impact. However more and more customers are prioritising sustainability. Faced with this reality, comapnies are rethinking their products and focus more on sustainability, functionality and ergonomics. The textile industry is putting more and more efforts to produce products from eco-friendly materials, reduce pollution in the world, and create sustainable, eco-friendly products.

Gintarė Jurašytė-Šukienė, the manager of MB “Dizaino vėjas”, which manages the “siLversands” brand, says that during the pandemic work efficiency was increased . Despite declining sales, the pandemic helped adjust some of the company’s processes, work with a smaller team, but more efficiently, more economically. In addition, more attention was paid to online sales.