Voglia donates 10,000 items of clothing to Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with the Finnish Red Cross
The Finnish Red Cross supports Kyrgyzstan, which is struggling in its difficult situation, with its international clothing aid program .
Kyrgyzstan, a neighbor of China and divided by mountain ranges, has a significant poverty rate - in places even comparable to the level of developing countries. Kyrgyzstan, which has seasons similar to Finland, is also frequently ravaged by floods and landslides, which test the local population and society.
The Finnish Red Cross clothing aid delivers everyday clothing that is suitable for the conditions in different countries, intact, clean and usable. In Kyrgyzstan, there is a particular need for warm and durable products. The quality requirements are strict, as the clothing is important to the recipient and there is little opportunity for washing or repair in crisis areas.
“We are a small clothing company with a great desire to help. Our products meet the Finnish Red Cross’ criteria; in 2019 we donated thousands of clothes to Kazakhstan. At the beginning of the year we contacted them again to ask how we could do good and where we should now focus our help,” says Voglia’s CEO Katriina Virtanen .
The goal of the collaborative project organized by Voglia and the Finnish Red Cross is to send up to 10,000 products to Kyrgyzstan. Voglia's customers have also been able to help by donating their good-quality clothing during February.
“We organized a collection in our stores, which was very popular. In addition, we have selected thousands of new, suitable products directly from our warehouse,” says Katriina.
Local distribution in Kyrgyzstan is carried out by the Finnish Red Cross in collaboration with the Red Crescent, and the clothes are donated directly to those in need.
“We are constantly striving to develop and find new ways to support various charity projects. Last year, we also started a campaign with the Women's Bank. The collaboration continues; we donate a portion of every sale of our Nightwear collection to girls and women in developing countries,” Katriina continues.
Voglia is a Finnish fashion house and family business founded in 1983. Pertti Virtanen led the company until 1994, after which the leadership was transferred to his son Markku Virtanen . In early September 2019, the position was handed over to the next generation; Voglia's current CEO is Markku's daughter Katriina Virtanen, who previously served as the brand's sales and marketing manager.
The clothing brand from Lammilta, Hämeenlinna, has renewed its strategy, now focusing on growth and internationalization, which the acute corona pandemic is bringing challenges to.
“We are doing our best to resolve the situation with as little damage as possible - while primarily protecting the health of our staff and customers,” says Katriina.
During 2019, Voglia strengthened its board of directors with two external experts by inviting Marina Vahtola as chairperson and Jaakko Salminen as member. Vahtola has previously served as CEO of Bauhaus Finland and Estonia and Oral Hammaslääkärit, among others . He has extensive expertise in retail and board work. Jaakko Salminen works as a partner and financial advisor at Grannenfelt Finance. He has also served as chairman of the Finnish business angel network FiBAN.
“From the beginning, Voglia has followed its own path, choosing quality . The company is now at the beginning of a new phase of development. The experience of Voglia’s new board members, combined with our own expertise, enables an ambitious growth strategy based on internationalization and its successful implementation,” say Voglia’s CEO Katriina Virtanen and main owner Markku Virtanen about the company’s renewal.
More information:
Katriina Virtanen — CEO — katriina.virtanen@voglia.fi
Liisa Kainulainen — Sales Director — liisa.kainulainen@voglia.fi