From Traditional Industry to Smart Regional Specialisation: Textile Industry Transformation in the Łódź Region

The aim of the article is to examine how the textile industry in the Łódź Voivodeship has evolved in the context of building smart regional specialisations. The ideas underlying the concept of smart regional specialisation in order to use this foundation to outline the trends in the development and transformation of the textile industry in Central and Eastern European countries are described. The transformation of the innovative capacity of this industry in the Łódź region is shown. The research used an analysis of existing materials, statistical methods and LQ location indicators. Specific territorial capital accumulated for over two centuries and encapsulated in tradition, knowledge, skills, and economic relations in the Łódź region has provided a unique economic potential for the development of the textile industry. The period of rapid transformation was followed by stabilisation and the reconstruction of its potential and building smart specialisation, which will become the impetus for regional competitiveness.

The authors thank Sylwia Majchrzak and Marzena Dymel for their support in the research.