Predilnica Litija

Predilnica Litija, branded as Litia, is a Slovenian spinning mill based in Litija and one of the oldest textile operations in the country, founded in 1886. The company specialises in ring-spun yarns made from bi- or multi-component blends of natural and man-made fibres, serving apparel, home textiles and technical textiles for both weaving and knitting. Its yarns are developed in close cooperation with partners and incorporate innovative fibres. The mill has weathered the general decline of Slovenian textile manufacturing and today positions itself as a producer of speciality yarns rather than commodity cotton yarn. It employs roughly 170 people (2014 data) and markets itself internationally, exhibiting at trade fairs such as EUROSATORY in Paris and FILO in Milan.

Predilnica Litija is an industrial company from Litija, originally a cotton spinning mill, in existence since 1886. It is among the oldest textile plants in Slovenia, a development aided by the railway and by the proximity of brown coal from Trbovlje and Zagorje, as well as an ample supply of cheap labour in the surrounding area. The first person to obtain a craft licence for spinning and textile production was the technician Julius Schwarz from Trieste in 1880. Three years later he was joined by partner Evgen Zublin from Manchester, and in 1886 they, together with other partners, founded the company Baumwollspinnerei und Weberei Schwarz, Zublin & Coie, Littai (Littai being the German name for Litija). That same year plans were drawn up for the factory that still stands today, so 1886 is considered the founding year of the spinning mill. In 1892 the mill employed 145 workers, and by 1904 it employed 400. Seeking maximum profit, the owners enforced a 12-hour working day and employed children between the ages of 12 and 14, although this was permitted only exceptionally; parents cooperated because the earnings helped families. In 1907 the first strike occurred, which did not end successfully for the workers. In 1909 the mill came into the ownership of the Trieste families Brunner and Kuffler and then into the firm Ritter, Rittmayer, which transferred the weaving operation to Gorizia while continuing to modernise the core spinning activity. By 1916 the Mautner family had bought up most textile enterprises in the empire, including the Litija factory. In 1923 the factory, together with the weaving mill in Prebold, was renamed Jugoslovanske tekstilne tvornice Mautner. Because there was almost no local competition and the state encouraged the development of the textile industry with incentives, the company performed excellently until 1940, when difficulties in cotton supply caused by the approaching war affected it. During the Second World War the factory was occupied by the Germans and production gradually ceased by 1944. It resumed after 1945, and in 1950 the workers took it over under self-management. As the only factory in the area, the spinning mill also shaped the development of the town: workers' houses, blocks and villas were built for workers and officials, and the first kindergarten was founded in 1930. Between the wars (around 1928) an annual elite ball, the špinerbal (from German spinnen, to spin, and Ball, ball), began to be organised in the hall Na Stavbah. Under the name 'Spinners' Ball' it was revived in 1947, and after 1970 its exclusivity faded. Despite the decline of textile activity in Slovenia, the company has maintained its operations. In 2007 it received an award as an energy-efficient company. Predilnica, once dependent on the production of cotton and synthetic yarn, is today established as a producer of special yarns from blends of natural and man-made fibres. According to 2014 data, the company employs around 170 workers.

• 2014

  Company employs around 170 workers.

• 2007

  Receives award as an energy-efficient company.

• 1950

  Workers take over the factory under self-management.

• 1947

  'Spinners' Ball' revived under the name 'Ples predilcev'.

• 1945

  Production resumes after the Second World War.

• 1944

  Production gradually ceases under German occupation.

• 1940

  Cotton supply difficulties due to approaching war affect operations.

• 1930

  First kindergarten founded for workers' families.

• 1923

  Factory renamed Jugoslovanske tekstilne tvornice Mautner together with Prebold weaving mill.

• 1916

  Mautner family acquires most textile enterprises in the empire, including the Litija factory.

• 1909

  Mill passes to Trieste families Brunner and Kuffler, then to firm Ritter, Rittmayer.

• 1907

  First strike occurs, unsuccessful for workers.

• 1904

  Mill employs 400 workers.

• 1892

  Mill employs 145 workers.

• 1886

  Company Baumwollspinnerei und Weberei Schwarz, Zublin & Coie, Littai founded; factory plans drawn up.

• 1883

  Evgen Zublin from Manchester joins as partner.

• 1880

  Julius Schwarz obtains a craft licence for spinning and textile production.

Speciality yarn producer focused on innovative fibre blends for apparel, home and technical textiles.

• Ring-spun yarns from bi- or multi-component blends

• Speciality yarns for apparel

• Speciality yarns for home textiles

• Speciality yarns for technical textiles

1. 1Domov - Litia Spinnerylitija.com
2. 2About Litia - Litia Spinnerylitija.com
3. 3Predilnica Litija - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Predilnica Litija - Wikipedia (Slovenian)sl.wikipedia.org