On November 19, 2025, one of the most important events of the year for light industry, fashion ecosystem and digital innovations — CLOTEX D-FEST: Festival of Digital Innovations in Fashion and Textiles — took place at Khmelnytskyi National University. The event brought together representatives of universities, clusters, international organizations, SMEs, startups and innovative projects from all over Ukraine and Europe.
The opening of the festival began with performances by key project participants:
Serhiy Matyukh, rector of Khmelnytskyi National University;
Oleg Demchuk, Head of the Sustainable Development Agency "ASTAR";
Halyna Shvets, cluster manager of Podillia Fashion Cluster;
Vyacheslav Askerov, representative of the Khmelnytskyi IT cluster.
Representatives of the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration, regional and city councils also joined the congratulations, emphasizing the importance of innovative development of the region, cluster initiatives, and digitalization of enterprises.
The guests were also welcomed by the project coordinator, Oksana Zakharkevych, emphasizing that the coordinated work of the teams of Khmelnytskyi National University, the Sustainable Development Agency "ASTAR", Podillia Fashion Cluster, and the Khmelnytskyi IT Cluster made the hub a center of modern digital solutions for the textile industry.
Three panel discussions — three vectors of industry development
The CLOTEX D-FEST program included three informative panels that outlined the main trends of digital transformation in the fashion and textile sectors.
1. "Year of EDIH CLOTEX-HUB and EDIH in Ukraine"
Experts from HaDEA, DG CONNECT, representatives of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and teams of Ukrainian EDIH centers participated in the discussion. They emphasized: the rapid growth of digital maturity of SMEs, the impact of the Digital Europe program on the development of innovations and digital services, and the high demand for EDIH consultations and technological solutions in light industry.
The panel confirmed: in one year, CLOTEX-HUB has become one of the key drivers of the digital transformation of Ukraine's fashion and textile ecosystems.
2. "Synergy of projects: Erasmus, Horizon Europe, Digital Europe"
The participants of the section were representatives of KhNU, KNUTD, KhNTU and teams of international projects - INNOVATEX, MOVEX, SMART-PL, 3D4U, U_CAN. They focused on: implementing digital technologies in educational programs, developing inter-university cooperation, creating new courses and programs for training specialists in the digital fashion industry.
The panel showed: it is education that forms the basis for the innovative industry and prepares a new generation of specialists.
3. “Sewing clusters of Ukraine are our clients”
The discussion was moderated by Halyna Shvets, manager of Podillia Fashion Cluster. The panel became a platform for exchange of experience between Ukrainian and international experts.
Main highlights:
- application of European methodologies for assessing digital maturity (DMA);
- development of recommendations for SMEs regarding production automation;
- the key role of clusters as a bridge between business and innovative services.
4. Digital Fashion Support: Challenges, Solutions and Success Stories
Moderator: Lyudmila Bukhantsova, Project Manager of EDIH CLOTEX-HUB. The panel was a discussion on how the Ukrainian fashion community can develop, implement digital innovations, and strengthen its positions in Ukraine and on the international stage.
- opportunities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in Ukraine;
- Norway's support for the development of Ukrainian business;
- innovative digital solutions and startups to support the garment business;
- a story of success and professional growth of an entrepreneur who used the services of EDIH CLOTEX-HUB.
Innovation space and demonstration of new solutions
In the university lobby, guests had the opportunity to get acquainted with dozens of cutting-edge solutions: 3D clothing design and virtual fitting technologies, production automation and optimization systems, and innovative educational and scientific platforms.
The exhibition demonstrated real examples of digital transformation of enterprises and the possibilities of implementing the latest technologies.
Bottom line: digital innovation is shaping the future of the industry
CLOTEX D-FEST showed how digital technologies are changing the Ukrainian textile and fashion industry, creating new opportunities for export, development and international cooperation. The partnership of universities, clusters, SMEs, startups and international organizations forms a powerful ecosystem capable of ensuring the sustainable technological development of the country.
Project Clotex-HUB is co-financed by the European Union through the Digital Europe Programme under grant agreement No. 101191415.
Photo: Oksana Demchuk, Oleksandr Nikitin
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