On May 22 and 23, 2025, representatives of the teaching staff and students of the second (bachelor's) and third (master's) level of higher education of the Department of Food Technologies, Light Industry and Design of the Education and Research Institute "Ukrainian Engineering and Pedagogical Academy" of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, studying in the specialties A5.36 Vocational Education (Technologies of Light Industry Products) and G15 Technologies of Light Industry, together with the representatives of the Innovation Generation NGO and the Department of Light Industry Technologies of LNTU took part in the Lutsk Youth Textile Forum.
The event was held within the framework of the international project "TEX4YUA" ‘Sustainable Excellence for Ukrainian Youth in the Textile and Apparel Industry’ of the Swedish Institute SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme.
During the opening of the forum, the participants were greeted by Roman HRUDETSKYI, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Digital Transformation of Lviv Polytechnic, Valentyna TKACHUK, Dean of the Faculty of Customs, Materials and Technologies of LNTU, Volodymyr SERHEIEV, Chairman of the Innovation Generation NGO, and Roman NESTERENKO, Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.
The participants were greeted and introduced to the project by its coordinator, Dr Tuser Biswas, a researcher at the Department of Textile Technology, University of Boras (Sweden). The Swedish Institute's project manager presented the current project and scholarship programmes of the Swedish Institute to the participants and encouraged our students and educators to be actively involved in the opportunities provided by Sweden for Ukrainians.
Then all the participants listened to and took part in the discussion of the reports of key speakers, industry experts, namely:
- Inna Cherkesova, Professor, Faculty of Culture and Arts, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. Presentation: ‘The Style Concept of the South of Ukraine in Tapestry’.
- Olha Ostapchuk, PhD in Technical Sciences, Chief Technologist at the Edelvika Textile Enterprise. Presentation: ‘Application of innovative technologies in textile production’.
- Tetiana Pushkarova, development manager at Reinventex LLC. Presentation: ‘EU Ecodesign Regulation: the future of sustainable development in the textile and fashion industry’.
- Nataliia Paul, Director of MEGASCENA company. Presentation: ‘Energy efficiency of textile production in Ukraine’.
During the event, the delegation visited the Ladomyria Ethnopark, an art space located in the city of Radyvyliv, Rivne region. It is presented in four locations: an open-air museum, the Ethno Brands Workshop project, the Serpanok Weaving Workshop, and the Museum of Authentic Costume. At this location, the delegation got acquainted with the technological process of fabric production and tried themselves as medieval fabric manufacturers.
The second day began with a visit to an event held at the Department of Light Industry Technology of LNTU, dedicated to the opening of a modern 3D hub for fashion design. This is a space where students will be able to master digital tools for modelling and visualising clothing, which is extremely relevant in the modern light industry.
The visit continued with a show of clothing collections created by students and graduates of higher education institutions.
V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University was represented by a collection created under the guidance of T. Shopina, senior lecturer of the Department of Food Technology, Light Industry and Design, under the title: "My dear Kharkiv".
At the end of the meeting, the participants visited the unique textile enterprise Edelvika, which has the entire production cycle - from fabric production to finished products.
