Empowering the Textile and Clothing Industry for the Future

The Portuguese Textile and Clothing Industry (ITV) has been undergoing profound changes, driven by the digital transition and the imperatives of sustainability. In this context, the MODAPORTUGAL SKILLS III project emerges as a structural response, promoted by CENIT – Textile Intelligence Centre and co-financed by COMPETE 2030.

According to Luís Hall de Figueiredo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CENIT, “the MODAPORTUGAL SKILLS III project is a structural contribution to the future of the Textile and Clothing Industry in Portugal”. The initiative mobilises 30 SMEs and more than 1,700 trainees in a training programme totalling 314,000 hours of specialised training, with a clear objective: ‘to strengthen the competitiveness of the business fabric and equip it with the necessary skills to face the challenges of the dual transition – green and digital’.

In addition to training, the project seeks to transform companies. As Luís Hall de Figueiredo explains, ‘it operates in areas that are crucial for the repositioning of the Portuguese fashion industry, such as sustainability, digitalisation and product innovation’. The actions range from the modernisation of processes and the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies to the development of eco-design, traceability and circular economy practices.

The impact is clear: ‘by investing in staff training, participating companies reorganise processes, become more efficient and reduce environmental impacts, while accelerating the integration of digital tools and creating products with greater added value.’

Another distinguishing feature is the collaborative nature of the operation. ‘SMEs from different segments come together to share knowledge, create synergies and respond in an integrated manner to the new demands of international markets,’ says the President of CENIT. This cooperation reinforces the position of Portuguese ITV as a global benchmark in responsible, innovative and sustainable fashion, in line with the European Green Deal and the expectations of consumers who are increasingly attentive to transparency and social responsibility.

The role of COMPETE 2030 is also highlighted: ‘it provides the necessary resources for SMEs to invest in a structured way in the development of their employees, accelerating change processes and creating conditions for sustainable growth.’ For Luís Hall de Figueiredo, this support is ‘a decisive contribution to strengthening the external competitiveness of companies and to establishing Portugal as an international benchmark for fashion that invests in knowledge, innovation and the future’.

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