Textiles
Until recently perceived as the city of factories (and for this reason, known as “Textile Industry Kingdom” and “Polish Manchester”), Łódź, a city tailored for the modern textile and fashion industry, is today the Polish hub of the sector, with solid development prospects.
The Łódzkie region has over 150 years of tradition and the unique industrial atmosphere, a large base of higher and secondary education, a strong base of scientific research and an abundant human resources base. The textile and clothing manufacturing represents approx. 10% of the value of the marketed production of the entire manufacturing sector in the Łódzkie region, while the companies from this industry employ approx. 24% of workers employed in the manufacturing sector in the Łódzkie region.
Apart from the industrial heritage and the local economy historically anchored to the textile industry, the city has also a rich educational and academic background, tailored to the needs of modern textile and fashion sector.
- Łódź University of Technology, Faculty of Material Technologies and Textile Design - a technical faculty placing a particular emphasis on such subjects as biomaterials, nanocomposites, wearable electronics and advanced human-friendly material technologies, but also on the e-commerce management. http://www.style.p.lodz.pl/tresc/124/
- Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź - a modern artistic university attracting young creative enthusiasts of painting, fashion, graphics and design, and providing the highest qualifications in, among others, clothing & fashion design and fabrics & interior design. http://int.asp.lodz.pl/studies
- College of Art and Design in Łódź - a recognised private higher education institution, educating skilled practitioners in fashion, film clothes and accessories design. https://www.wssip.edu.pl/en/faculties.php?page=design
The network of specialised classes in technical secondary schools in Łódź trains future textile, fashion, graphics and digital printing technicians to work in the modern fashion industry.
The city is also home to the most recognised research institutes focusing on the textile industry:
- Textile Research Institute (Instytut Włókiennictwa) - the oldest research and development institution active in the textile industry in Poland, focusing primarily on the development, testing and certification of textile products [www.iw.lodz.pl],
- Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres - a scientific unit conducting research and development activities in such areas as biopolymers, biomaterials, polymers and synthetic fibres, biotechnology and nanotechnology, cellulose and paper, as well as environmental protection [www.ibwch.lodz.pl].
- Institute of Leather Industry - one of the most recognised research units in Poland, specialising in particular in projects relating to natural and artificial leather products [www.ips.lodz.pl].
