Česká Lípa social enterprise revives historic textile patterns

The social enterprise Deusmedia is breathing new life into the historical textile heritage of Česká Lípa, a former center for cotton fabric printing. By utilizing over 13,560 original textile patterns and 20,000 printing forms preserved in the local museum, the company is creating a new brand called KA.

The project aims to combine local industrial history with modern design while providing employment opportunities for individuals facing social or health-related barriers to the labor market. Deusmedia currently employs eight people, six of whom have disabilities. Director Rudolf Živec emphasized that the goal is for the products, such as bags and scarves, to succeed based on their design and quality rather than solely because they originate from a social enterprise.

The production process remains within the Czech Republic. Deusmedia handles graphic designs, La Linea in Dvůr Králové nad Labem manages fabric printing, and the Bogi workshop in Česká Lípa assists with sewing. Because many historical patterns are damaged or incomplete, the restoration process requires manual artistic reconstruction rather than simple digital scanning.