The expansion of the industry circle in the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency's Manufacturer Mentoring Program has proven to be successful

The third Manufacturer Mentoring Program launched by the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency has successfully concluded with more participants than ever before. The number of participants was the highest this year, and many professional collaborations were also established thanks to the program, which for the first time was open to textile and clothing companies as well as other creative processing industry actors. The aim of the mentoring program is to develop domestic production, to help brands enter the international market, thereby stimulating the competitiveness of the domestic sector.

One of the key strategic objectives of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) is to strengthen the domestic manufacturer base and increase their export capacity. The experiences of the previous Manufacturer Mentoring Programs show that there is an outstanding need for a support program for business development, brand and marketing communication, and the introduction of the most modern production technologies in the domestic creative industry. The main professional partner of the program is the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA), which supports the export activities of Hungarian enterprises and thus the competitiveness of the Hungarian market with a wide range of services, including international market research, business consulting and training.

In the third mentoring program of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, there was a significant change compared to previous years, in that, in addition to textile and clothing industry enterprises, other creative processing industry actors, including manufacturers of household ceramics, concrete, plaster and cement products, or office furniture, could also apply. Once again, the participants were selected by a jury made up of HFDA representatives, industry experts and HEPA specialists, during which important aspects were the possibilities of the manufacturers to enter the international market, their sustainability and innovation objectives.

14 companies of the 22 applicants, Árkossy Bútor Kft., Bekestex Trade Kft., Eco-Vill-Text Kft., Faktum Bútor Kft., Mazug Ponyva Kft., M-Sector Kft., Multifelt Factory Kft., Organic Porcelain Manufactura Kft., Pataki Ruhaipari Zrt., Pelle D'Oro Kft., Rovitex Homedeco Kft., Triform Neon Kft., Viaplant Design Kft., and We on Wood participated in the five months of training. The entire country was covered by the program, as the headquarters of the companies included Kőszeg, Sárospatak, Pécs and Szeged.

’Functional development can be observed in Hungarian product manufacturing. For international customers, domestic enterprises are considered to be attractive, flexible and highly competent production sites. We launched the Manufacturer Mentoring Program specifically for fashion and design industry businesses that represent high professional quality and international expansion is one of their goals, and are even ready for this step. In addition to theoretical and practical knowledge, the mentoring program also offers a place to promote collaborations, and even after its conclusion, we will continue to help the mentored manufacturers. The development of domestic production and their future results will contribute to the growth of the performance of the domestic textile industry and design sector, thus also contribute to strengthen the international sector position of Hungary and Budapest.’ - said Anita Forintos-Szűcs, deputy general manager of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency.

In collaboration with HEPA and additional experts appointed by HFDA, the program involved 12 mentors who helped the manufacturers. The mentees participated in 11 group presentations and gained practical knowledge through thematic workshops, focusing on areas such as financial operations, sales, market and business strategies, sustainability, technology and innovation. Individual consultations were also provided for organizational development issues. A significant part of the program's agenda was organized factory visits by HFDA, which aimed to assess actual market demands and opportunities. The Agency personally visited each manufacturer, and based on the experiences, it aims to foster further partnership collaborations even after the conclusion of the mentorship program. The former mentees will receive regular updates on relevant projects, roundtable discussions, job subcontracting opportunities, as well as any international business inquiries.

According to participants' feedback, the Manufacturer Mentoring Program proved to be exceptionally valuable, providing them with knowledge that they can effectively apply to enhance their operations. Expanding the network of program participants offered opportunities for broader relationship-building, resulting in the formation of numerous new business connections among the mentees.

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About Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency was founded in 2018 to support every actor in the fashion and design industry in an efficient and structured way, following predetermined strategic pillars: professional coordination, enhancing Hungarian brands’ availability and trade opportunities, educational development and manufacturing development. To realise its goals, the HFDA organises domestic events each year, such as the region’s major fashion event, the Budapest Central European Fashion Week, or the 360 Design Budapest exhibition, which has received international awards. Besides, they provide Hungarian creators opportunities for participation and debuting at international professional events such as the Milan Fashion Week. Strategic cooperation with professional organisations, increasing export, and supporting Hungarian brands’ professional development with mentoring programs are among their accentuated goals.