Latvia Produces World-Class Lingerie

Liepāja has just under 70,000 residents and around 50 lingerie manufacturers—that’s more than one for every 1,400 people! Talk about a well-stitched community. While this coastal city is a major hub for lingerie production, manufacturers big and small can be found all across Latvia. So how did the country become so skilled at making undergarments?

Let’s rewind to the 1970s, when the legendary Lauma textile factory began operations in Liepāja. Over time, it earned recognition far beyond Latvia, establishing the country’s reputation as a trusted lingerie producer. Then, with Latvia’s transition to a free market economy in the 1990s, new players emerged—many founded by former Lauma employees. Today, Latvian companies clothe consumers in Scandinavia, Central Europe, and beyond, with underwear being one of the country’s top textile exports.

Take V.O.V.A., for example, founded in 1991. Sales manager Jekaterīna Maņahina explains that Latvia’s manufacturers have long participated in key trade shows, fostering lasting relationships and strengthening the country’s reputation within the industry. International partners value not only V.O.V.A.’s product quality and reliable timelines but also its commitment to sustainability through the use of recycled materials. Today, 80% of its products are exported to countries like Czechia, France, the Netherlands, the USA, and beyond.

Alongside the companies operating on an industrial scale, Latvia boasts a host of creative small businesses crafting handmade lingerie. One of them is Wild Spirit. Founder Dana Bela explains that her company co-exists peacefully with the bigger players since they cater to different clientele. She describes small business owners in Latvia as being like “cactuses in the desert that will always find a way to survive” and Latvians as scrappy, tenacious, and resilient. “We have this ability to achieve great things with limited resources, to persevere, and to create endlessly,” Bela continues.

According to Bela, being smaller allows responding faster to trends. For example, they might pick up on the sudden popularity of a certain pattern or color and quickly craft a new collection.

Wild Spirit’s international customers value the handmade nature of the lingerie, while locals appreciate the personal communication with the business, the feeling that they can impact its development, and support the local economy and a family-run business. “People like to buy feelings and an experience, not a product,” Bela adds about her customers and their preferences.

And so it is that Latvia is a veritable powerhouse in lingerie production, offering everything from simple everyday comfortwear to trendy lace lingerie for special occasions. Should you wish to expand your personal collection, know that many Latvian companies offer international delivery.