Supporting local clothing companies – made in Poland is gaining popularity

Supporting local clothing companies – made in Poland is gaining popularity

The market for textile products is changing rapidly, which is not without its impact on consumer decisions. The development of e-commerce platforms, the use of artificial intelligence, military conflicts translating into raw material prices and the supply chain, changing business models, or the growing share of second-hand clothing sales are influencing the current shape of the market. In addition, the easy availability of very cheap clothing and accessories on platforms such as Shein and Temu have made the topic of conscious consumption of goods increasingly recurrent.

According to McKinsey & Company’ s report “The State of Fashion 2026,” consumers are increasingly becoming “value hunters.” They are starting to pay attention to aspects such as natural raw materials, eco-friendly production, certifications, product quality. They are looking for garments that will last for years or are covered by a repair system from the manufacturer. An additional factor that may influence the choice is the country of production and the desire to support local manufacturers. Why does this matter more than it seems?

First – supply chain and economics

Producing a textile product is a complex process that involves many players. Spinning mills, weaving mills, knitting mills, dyeing mills, printing mills , thread factories, clothing inserts, fabric and knitwear wholesalers, manufacturers of accessories (buttons, zippers, etc.), sewing mills, cutting rooms, manufacturers of packaging and printed advertising materials, labels and many others. The more labor-intensive and complex the product, e.g.: a winter jacket, the more elements are involved to make the product full-fledged and complete. Consequently, the number of players, labor and costs involved in producing this product increases. The more of these elements are sourced from local suppliers, and the product itself is produced by an indigenous company, the more taxes will flow into the budget.

Ecology = local

The closer the more eco? There is a reason for this. The shorter the distance a product has to travel from the sewing room to the customer’s hands, the less carbon footprint it generates during transportation. The more accessories and add-ons produced locally, the shorter the supply chain becomes. Material woven in a Polish weaving mill and dyed in a textile plant in a neighboring town saves hundreds of thousands of kilometers right from the start. Even in the case of importing yarn from abroad. By outsourcing to local subcontractors, companies are more flexible, respond faster to customer needs, have more control over the processing, and at the same time support other industry players operating in Poland.

Harmful substances

Commissioned by the Federation of Consumers, the Lodz Textile Institute (LIT) tested 29 products, mainly clothing, underwear, shoes and jewelry purchased at random on Shein and Temu platforms. The tests were conducted in accordance with the requirements of the REACH Regulation (EC Regulation No. 1907/2026 of the EP and Council of 18.12.2006, on the evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals). On the basis of these tests, the report “Low prices, high risks” was published in April 2025 , It turned out that 57.6% of the tested products contained heavy metals (chromium, nickel, cobalt or lead) in concentrations exceeding EU standards.

How does this relate to local apparel and accessory companies? More than one might think. Companies operating in Poland, and therefore in the EU, are required to comply with applicable quality and environmental standards. Greater requirements entail higher costs of doing business. By supporting local brands we are betting on companies that, despite much stricter conditions, are trying to compete with the flood of mass-produced, cheap but not always safe clothing from popular Asian sales platforms.

Price, price and once more price

Products made in Poland by domestic brands are therefore often more expensive than similar versions available in global chains. In addition, the smaller scale of production requires a completely different business model than the operations of global giants. This translates not only into the nature of the brand, but also the price. However, if the quality of a PLN 100 t-shirt is still very good after 50 washes, it will ultimately be a more cost-effective expense than a similar product for PLN 30 deformed after the second wash.

“Polish Brand” versus “Production in Poland”-the devil is in the details

Before deciding to buy a particular piece of clothing, it is worth distinguishing between two categories of products that we can find:

• Polish Brand: the company is headquartered in Poland, designs clothing here, but production can be outsourced to Asia or Turkey
• “Made in Poland” product: the company’s headquarters as well as production facilities are located in Poland, the garment was designed and physically sewn in a local sewing room/workshop. Such a model gives work to specialists and craftsmen locally.

So the most optimal choice would be the second option, but already buying the first type of products is always part of a more conscious purchasing model

A signal to the market

Local consumer patriotism is not an obligation. However, it is worthwhile, given a choice, to signal to manufacturers what the market should look like and what we expect as informed consumers. Supporting local business translates not only into the quality of clothes. Companies with Polish capital, operating locally, employing workers from close by , paying taxes in Poland, have an impact on the network of mutual economic relations, and above all are more resistant to turbulence in the context of the global supply chain.