4th Lingerie Industry Forum in Latvia: The Report

12 November 2018

On 25th and 26th October, the 4th edition of Lingerie Industry Forum in Latvia took place, demonstrating once again the success of the format.

Another Successful Edition

Each year sees an increasing number of buyers participating in the Forum, and the success of the event has already reached far beyond Latvia, with many European guests visiting to discover the country’s lingerie production cluster.
This edition was attended by 124 participants from Latvia as well as 94 guests from 9 other countries: Russia, UK, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Finland, Israel, Lithuania, and the UAE.
The Forum took place on the Baltic Coast, in the city of Liepaja, which is famous for being home to the largest textile factory in Latvia, Lauma Fabrics (today part of the European Lingerie Group), and more than 70 manufacturers of underwear.

The first day of the Forum began with a tour of Lauma Fabrics. Violeta Pavlenko, the Sales Director, showed visitors not only all the steps of production, but also told them about the history of the company and its rich assortment of textiles, lace and embroidery.

THE CONFERENCE
After lunch, lingerie-themed conferences began in the ‘Great Amber’ hall; Andris Ozols, Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), Gunārs Ansins, Liepaja’s Vice-Mayor, and Yuri Hadarovich, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Latvian Manufacturers of Underwear (LATVERA), welcomed the public. Francesca Spinetta, Editorial Director of Intima Media Group, then held a conference on “Global Change in the Intimate Apparel Industry”.

Panel Discussion

After a short pause, it was time for a panel discussion, dedicated to innovative concepts in European retail and moderated by Francesca Spinetta. Speakers from different European countries including Joanna Grunt, co-owner of Pati Jò (Italy); Claire Haynes and Melissa Barton, owners of Lingerie Outlet Store (UK); Vladimir Surkov, founder of Brashop (Russia); and Mark Ramelow, general director of Ramelow stores (Germany), shared their experience in the lingerie business.

Gillian Proctor, M.Des.R.C.A., Associate Professor and Subject Leader of the world-renowned Contour Fashion course at the School of Design of de Montfort University (UK), was the event’s special guest. She discussed the world-renowned school and presented her talented graduates’ finest graduation collections.

The Runway Show

In the evening, a fashion show took place, showcasing the new collections of 10 Latvian brands. Among those presented were V.O.V.A., Orhideja, Rosme, Stefi L, V.I.P.A, Glora, La Coquette, Regina N, Nikol Djumon and Gracija-Rim.

After the show, organizers hosted a cocktail evening, allowing participants and buyers alike to network and relax after a busy day of events.

Business Exchange and Factory Visit

The second day of the Forum began with a match making session, during which guests could meet and talk with Latvian manufacturers.
In the afternoon, the guests had opportunity to visit the production sites of Orhideja, V.O.V.A., Stefi L, Glora, Daretta and La Coquette and witness first hand the standard of Latvian manufacturers.

As has become tradition, the Lingerie Industry Forum in Latvia offered an participants a positive experience, in which to make useful contacts and share new ideas for business development.

Intima Media Group continues to support the Lingerie Industry Forum in Latvia, keeping readers informed about the most relevant news and the business opportunities!