Ref. Ares(2014)1103500 - 08/04/2014
REINVENTING TEXTILE AND CLOTHING
INDUSTRY VIA CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF LODZ, POLAND
Lodz – 24.03.2014
REINVENTING TEXTILE AND CLOTHING
INDUSTRY VIA CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF LODZ, POLAND
Textile origins of Lodz
Economic collapse, need of re-definition, transition via
inovation and creativity
Lodz- creative industries center
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
TEXTILE ORIGINS OF LODZ
500 000
new citizens in
50 years
REVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT INTO A TEXTILE AND
CLOTHING PRODUCTION CENTER
massive settlements of population with textile skills
demographic and multicultural boom
Lodz – 24.03.2014
TEXTILE ORIGINS OF LODZ
N
E
W
S
GLORIOUS TIME OF A TEXTILE AND CLOTHING
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
mass scale, cheap cotton and wool production for Eastern markets
lourishing cultural and social life
Lodz – 24.03.2014
TEXTILE ORIGINS OF LODZ
END
TOWARDS THE END OF TEXTILE
MONOCULTURE ERA
50% of population in textile industry until 80.of XXth century
90 % production decline, lost of Eastern markets, inflow of cheap Asian import
biggest in Poland unemployment (30 % )
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, NEED OF RE-DEFINITION
TRANSITION VIA INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY
LODZ LEFT ALONE
No governmental renewal plan for Lodz, no UE support
Lodz builds on convenient central placement, good transport access, Special Economic Zone,
Regional Development Agency, International Fairs and purchases professional business
consultancies
Lodz – 24.03.2014
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, NEED OF RE-DEFINITION
TRANSITION VIA INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY
SHIFT TOWARDS CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION DRIVEN
TEXTILE AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY
Transition towards speciliazed, technologically advanced textile and cloth production
guarantees Lodz 1. place in Poland in cotton, wool and lady garments production.
Strategic foresights by high schools, R+D centers enhance Lodz inventions- high-tech textiles for
medical, military, life safeguard and extreme sport purposes.
Succesful examples of local SMEs, wholesale traders and cooperants for worldly recognised
brands
Lodz – 24.03.2014
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, NEED OF RE-DEFINITION
TRANSITION VIA INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY
NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE CITY OF LODZ
DEVELOPMENT
Integrated 2020 + development strategy
Textile and clothing industry as a part of creative industries with new slogan: Lodz creates
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
LODZ - CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CENTER
VISUAL ARTS LEGACY
Textile, clothing production and design traditions - Fashion Week Poland, Central Polish Textile
Museum, International Triennial of Tapestry, Lodz Design Festival
Film production and graphic art traditions - Film School, animated films studio SE-MA-FOR,
significant film/advertisement/game production, construvism art traditions by Kobro and
Strzeminski, Contemporary Arts Museum, Fine Arts Academy, Fotofestival, Comic Strip and
Games Festival, Lodz of Four Cultures Festival, Lodz Biennial
Lodz – 24.03.2014
LODZ - CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CENTER
PIONEER CITY FOR REVITALIZATION PROCESSES
Re-adaptation of original industrial complexes for creative industries purposes - Manufaktura,
lofts, New Center of Lodz
Enthusiastic social reception of culture - creative district, shaped by artists zones of OFF
Piotrkowska, WIMA, Art Incubator
EXCELLENT MICE DESTINATION
Host city of Volleyball Men World` Championship 2014, candidate for Polish EXPO 2022
candidate as a pilot city for revitalization processes
Large city break and MICE offer
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
LODZ SUCCESS STORY
Economical diversity, endogenous assets
(central localisation, conveniant rail, road, air connection),
industrial heritage, unique city structure and history
+
investment in innovation, research, development , creativity
+
consequent creative economy development policy
=
SUCCESS
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
LODZ LEARNS LESSONS
WHAT WORKED WELL?
establishment of new creative spaces within the city (Manufaktura, OFF Piotrkowska,
WIMA, Art Incubator, ect.) as a basis for MICE offer, social enthusiasm for culture and civic
engagement
re-definition of the city from textile production focused to new sectors (BPO, logistics,
white goods, bio-technologies, pharmaceutics)
pro-active policy in favor of foreign and local investors (FDI, local SMEs, MICE sector,
creative environment, social stakeholders, business operators)- gain of 25.000 new job
places till 2010 and expected further 15.000 until end of 2015
Lodz – 24.03.2014
LODZ GIVES LESSON
WHICH PROBLEMS NEEDED TO BE SOLVED AND HOW?
Difficulties in getting workers
mentally ready to re-qualify from
centrally planned economy to free
market reality
Special support program of free
trainings and consultancies in favor
of unemployed persons; incentive
program for youth people
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
TRANSFERABILITY OF LODZ EXAMPLE
CITY MANAGMENT AND PROMOTION APPROACH
CAPABILITY TO TURN WEAK POINTS INTO OPPORTUNITIES
AND DANGERS INTO CHALLENGES:
unemployment > big labour market
numerous high school graduates > large highly skilled workers market
attractive life costs > low operational costs of business
many post-industrial areas > easy access to investment and office spaces
MAJOR PROBLEM > MAJOR OPPORTUNITY
collapse of textile industry > free space for new technoligies and revitalization
projects, new social activity
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Lodz – 24.03.2014
Marek Cieślak
Deputy Mayor of the City of Lodz, Poland
www.lodz.pl