The textile company Timo s.r.o., based in picturesque Litoměřice, has gradually become synonymous with quality Czech underwear and swimwear. Since the 1970s, it has been combining traditional craftsmanship with values that are deeply rooted in the Czech textile industry. Timo is not just a manufacturer – it is a story of resilience and pride in Czech production, a story that has remained true to its commitment to high quality despite all the challenges and the changing market. Thanks to current cooperation and consultations with the Innovation Center of the Ústí Region, the unique textile manufacturer manages to innovate further and become more competitive.

We arrive in Litoměřice, where the company's production plant stands next to picturesque and currently lush green hills Timo, an elegant building that impresses with its modern design from the outside and rich history from the inside, combining the legacy of a socialist state enterprise and the determination of a family business. He welcomes us on the spot Simon Jiraček, the son of the owner Markéta Jiráčková and at the same time the director of strategy (CSO) of the company and leads us further, into the very heart of the plant. Later we will be joined by Mrs owner Markéta Jiráčková and together they bring us the entire Timo family story - from the challenging beginnings in the 1970s to current technological innovations.

From a worker's workshop to a family brand

The company's history began already in the 1970s, when the building that today serves as the Timo production plant was part of the state-owned company Triola. At that time, over 12,000 items of linen were produced here daily for the markets of the Eastern Bloc, and the company employed approximately 600 workers. Jitka Kalivodová, the mother/grandmother of the current management, was a trained women's tailor and an economist with a passion for fashion.. A brave woman who was not afraid to start production, despite the fact that she was not a member of the Communist Party, and who, thanks to study trips to Germany, brought new technologies to Triola, which increased the efficiency of production and prepared the company for mass production at the time.

After changes in the company in the 1990s and privatization, Timo was established as an independent brand, under the leadership of a family that believed in the future of the Czech textile industry. Today, Timo co-leads the third generation and still adheres to the values that its founders espoused – quality materials, honest craftsmanship and dedication to customers. "We are such a startup with the burden of the pasti," says the grandson of the founder, Šimon, with a smile, alluding to the long journey the company had to take in order to cope with generational changes, the entry of foreign competition and the need for innovation. At the same time, they still praise the decision to keep their own research and development, the so-called model shop. "The model room is an exceptional department that allows us to innovate in the field of underwear directly on the spot without the need to communicate our know-how, which is unique in Europe,adds Markéta Jiráčková to the complex production of bras consisting of 22 steps.

The investment in the cutter allowed the company to optimize production, save the cost of 4 employees and save up to 30% of material, which in the long term allows the company to save a few million per year, which we can invest in other innovations. Šimon Jiráček, director of strategy, Timmo

However, the innovation did not end only with the machinery. It played a big role in the planning of further innovations Innovation Center of the Ústí Region (ICUK). Innovation center consultant Petr Jansa, who has experience as a business director of several textile companies, provided Timo with valuable advice regarding financial support from the Ústí Region, specifically the so-called Digital Voucher and Business Development Voucher, which enabled the company to rebuild the warehouse, which previously operated more for wholesale packaging to a warehouse meeting the current needs of retail sales. The representative of ICUK continues to work as a consultant to Timo and as part of the expert Platinn program he passes on his experiences. Thanks to this, the company effectively uses available support resources and has advanced in the digitization and optimization of logistics processes. "Cooperation with ICUK and Petr Jansa moves us in the right direction. Peter's consultations provide us with valuable insight for strategic decisions and his experience is invaluable to our growth", the representatives evaluate the cooperation Timo.

Back to the roots and dedication to customers

In the Czech laundry market, where customers are increasingly price-oriented, Timo stands out with its specialization. It focuses on quality, precisely crafted pieces, often for women with larger sizes. Each piece of laundry is a reflection of many years of experience and a deep understanding of the needs of customers who rely on Timo not only for its quality, but also for its authenticity and attention to detail. Their models, up to 104 different sizes, are the result of years of built-up know-how and often use the services of top model makers. "We focus on quality and we know what Czech women need. Our goal is not mass production of standard size 75B, but precision and an individual approach to customers of other sizes,"The owners complement each other when it comes to product quality.

Thanks to a loyal clientele, loyal employees, well-trained sales representatives and a network of 22 stores, where the sales conversion rate reaches up to 80 %, Timo is able to succeed on the Czech and Slovak markets and withstand foreign competition. The proof is also the interest of the public in tours of the company during the Day of Architecture, when visitors could look behind the scenes of production and take away a strong impression that Czech craftsmanship still has its place.

Outlook for the future

The Timo family business continues its commitment to innovation, thereby trying not only to strengthen its position on the Czech and Slovak markets, but above all to ensure its long-term stability and growth. "We are currently putting everything we earn back into development and innovation in the company," summarizes the company's strategy director and indicates that in the future they are planning further digitization of processes and investments in marketing, which will enable them to be even closer to customers.

The Timo company thus continues to prove that traditional craftsmanship and the determination to do things honestly are still values that can stand behind success even today. At the same time, they are well aware that innovation is impossible without courage.