In Bulgaria there was a tailoring industry at a very high level even back in the day. The national and European politicians must pass laws to preserve the garment industry not only in this country, but also in Europe.
This was stated in an interview with BGNES by Mitko Panayotov, who has been working in the Cantarelli factory and the garment industry for over 20 years.
About himself Panayotov says that he has developed along with the factory of "Cantarelli", with new technologies and with the new requirements of the market. "We have reached levels that are world class. Naturally, there is the finger and the technique, but we have not been left behind with the equipment. I have been working with the state-of-the-art equipment," he said, adding that it is computerised, easy to operate and to achieve good quality.
Panayotov said that in the beginning, the factory employed a hundred people. Subsequently, it developed, was equipped with very serious machinery and so the company reached 700 - 800 people working in it.
"The company was producing very serious quantities and exporting everything to the Western world," he explained, stressing that in terms of quality it had also reached very serious levels, specifying that they worked with very serious brands that had given their assessment.
Panayotov is adamant that they have achieved world-class quality and productivity, and the Western world is abusive, saying there is no good productivity and good income. "This is not the reason, this is just an excuse on their part. We just wish they would pay these people a decent wage. At the same time, the Western world is saying that the levels and the pay in Bulgaria is very low, the standard of living is low and when we with our labour, with our knowledge, with our capabilities ask for a fair price - we don't want to abuse that, we ask for ours and they just pull and look for some other reasons," he explained.
It is this hypocrisy on the part of European countries that talk about 'green' issues that irritates him, as they end up allowing their companies to import materials and clothes from third countries that are of dubious quality, of dubious origin and contain plastic.
"Nevertheless, we continue to fight. We know our options. We have the technique, we have the people, we have the knowledge. The question is, the question is, the question is, the question is, the question is, the question is, the question is, the question is, the question is.
The Cantarelli factory buys fabrics from Europe. "We get our fabrics from Italy, which are of good quality, which are certified, which have all the good qualities," he noted.
Panayotov added with regret that the traders are chasing their profit, it is easier for them to put something plastic, put a 300% mark-up and take the money. "Whereas we want to take the money for the quality - not just the quality of the material, but the quality of the garment," he said.
He said a lot could be done about this problem that is ruining the garment industry. "The Western world should make some restrictions on their companies, these serious, big companies," Panayotov said, describing the approach of these countries as hypocrisy.
According to him, every person is looking for quality and wants to give money for something of quality, for something good to enjoy. "When you take a jacket that is for no money and it turns out to be artificial, it has no soul this garment. I wouldn't put one on," he said.
Large companies that Cantarelli's factory used to work with are now starting to work with only Chinese materials, and these are fabrics that have no quality.
Panayotov said that there was a tailoring industry in Bulgaria at a very high level back in the day. "We tried to preserve it somehow and we have preserved it," he stressed and urged the state and European leaders, MPs to pass laws to preserve the garment industry not only in Bulgaria but in Europe.
Everything is artificial and natural is best, Panayotov said, adding that this is true not only for this sector, but also for agriculture and other industries that are similarly ruined.
Of the 700 to 800 people who worked in the factory, 50% of them are already out. "It is not a good policy to let these people leave with their knowledge, with their ability, with all their capabilities. The people who were here had golden hands. It pains me because they have gone through the factory and not only this factory, many other quality people have gone through the factory who are now working somewhere else and not in such prestigious jobs. They are working some jobs that are nothing in this case," Panayotov said and concluded that something should be done to keep these people here. / BGNES