The war has adjusted the future of the light industry in Ukraine. Its consequences and challenges for companies today are the growing regional asymmetry in the development of light industry and rapid shifts in the industry structure, provoked by the physical destruction of enterprises and industrial infrastructure, occupation of territories, migration of people to the western regions and abroad, logistical obstacles, changes in the timing of product delivery, and partially by business relocation.

In early February 2024, on the initiative of Ivan Gryshchenko, Rector of KNUTD, Academician of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, a cooperation agreement was concluded between the University and TK-Domashniy Tekstyl (TK-Home Textile) LLC, represented by Oleksandr Sokolovskyi, founder and chairman of the Textile-Contact group of companies, and Volodymyr Martseniuk, managing director of TK-Home Textile, as a responsible and promising partnership for the organization of professional training. Ivan Mykhailovych noted that the training takes place in close cooperation between educators and employers, because in the context of full-scale Russian aggression, the university ecosystem must be innovative and flexible.

This example of the leader of the Ukrainian fashion industry investing in social projects is especially relevant during a full-scale military aggression, as it provides training for experts who are extremely important for the economy in wartime and post-war Ukraine. Currently, the industry’s personnel shortage is in the profession of seamstress, which is constantly in demand in the labor market. In addition, the project was launched during the war as a response to the growing number of social problems of internally displaced persons and socially vulnerable groups. It is worth emphasizing that the courses are incredibly popular. In the first half of 2024, eight graduations of the School of Seamstresses took place since its launch. All graduates who have successfully completed their studies are offered jobs with high salaries by TK-Home Textile.

All of the above prompted the continuation of cooperation, and in September 2024, new sets of the School of Seamstresses were opened as part of a joint project of the University with TK-Home Textile LLC. The course “School of Seamstresses” is open to anyone who wants to learn the basics of sewing technology. Free short-term training for people of different levels of training and age is provided at the production facilities of TK-Home Textile LLC. The third group of students is currently being trained. Each course is completed with a certificate.

For ten days, in accordance with the training program, experienced masters of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design conduct professional and theoretical classes, in particular, Maryna Markhai reveals the basics of materials science in garment production, Yevhen Korobchenko talks about the principles of operation of sewing machines and their maintenance, Vitaliy Yalovyi teaches technological methods of garment production.

Course participants learn about the theoretical and practical aspects of a seamstress’ work, and master the basics of the profession, including performing manual and machine operations to join cuts, parts and assemblies on industrial sewing machines.

Such responsible initiatives are of great social importance, contributing to economic development and ensuring equal opportunities in the labor market.

The experience of hard daily work, successes and trials gained over the decades, sustainable positive trends, synergy of education and business are extremely important in the context of war and post-war development of Ukraine!

We are pleased to congratulate the next groups of students of the School of Seamstresses on the continuation of their training and sincerely wish them success in their future work, inspiration and realization of their most ambitious plans! Together to our Victory!

29.10.2024