Author: Sandra Nicolas

Greece, situated in southeastern Europe, boasts the longest coastline in the region and is positioned along the southern edges of the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Covering an approximate land area of 131,957 kilometers (about the area of Alabama), the country shares its borders with Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Turkey. Greece features about 6,000 islands and islets, however, only 227 of them are habitable. Nevertheless, Greece holds a strategic location, dominating the Aegean Sea and controlling the southern approach to the Turkish Straits (The World Factbook, 2023). The country’s terrain is divided into three main regions: the mainland, the islands, and the peninsula located to the south of the mainland. Greece’s diverse coastline comprises extensive beaches, sheltered bays, sand dunes, pebble shores, wetlands, deltas, caves carved by seawater, and volcanic dark sand areas (visit Greece, 2023). The landscape is known for its rugged mountains and forests, in addition to its numerous islands. The capital of Greece is Athens, which many consider to be the birthplace of Western civilization.

Historically, Greece’s distinctive geography, characterized by mountains, often acted as natural dividers among communities, influencing migrations and fostering self-sufficiency.  With only 170 inhabitable islands, most of the islands are in the Aegean Sea. The four biggest islands in Greece are Crete, Evia, Lesbos, and Rhodes; Crete the most popular island in the region, is the largest in Greece and fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (Fuchs, 2023). Greece is rich in limestones ideally for caves and canyons, forests, rivers, and valleys. Greece’s plant life and animal life benefit from the influence of several significant biogeographic zones, with Mediterranean and Western Asian elements prevailing and supplemented by species from the central European interior (Climate of Greece 2023). Home to one of the largest mountains, Mount Olympus, Greece is highly diverse in geographical features.

Figure 2: Map of Greece

Greece, located in Southeastern Europe, possesses a population that has changed over time. Greece’s population is estimated to be over 10.4 million, Greece ranks ninety-one in the world by population. Its population density is eighty people per square kilometer, given its land area of 128,900 square kilometers (Greece population, 2023). The demographic makeup of Greece includes people who identify as Turks, Macedonians, Albanians, Aromanians (Vlachs), and Roma (Gypsies). Greek is the primary language spoken in Cyprus, and communities of Greek speakers are found to differing degrees in southern Albania, southern Italy, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Notably, Greek migrating communities contribute uniquely to various regions, including Europe, North and South America, Australia, and South Africa (Greece 2023). Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the proportion of the population in the productive age range (15-64 years), particularly among men (GREECE 2023). This increase is primarily attributed to the large influx of economic immigrants into the country.

The composition of Greece’s population can be viewed in several ways. The makeup of Greece cultural diversity in modern Greece has been shaped by migrations, invasions, imperial conquests, and conflicts of the 20th century (Greece 2023). The country has a notable urbanization rate, with many residents living in major cities like Athens whose population is 664,046, and Thessaloniki which holds 354,290 civilians (Greece population, 2023). When analyzing The Human Development Index (HDI) considers factors like literacy, education, GNI, and life expectancy. In 2020, the average life expectancy at birth in Greece was seventy-seven and a half years for men and eighty-three years for women. Despite this, the participation rate of the age group 0-14 in the total population has decreased, while the participation rate of the age group over 65 has risen. In January 2020, a law was placed on college funding that would be determined by performance criteria, such as internationalization, graduates’ employability, and the ratio of new entrants to graduates. The first funding agreements under these conditions are anticipated from 2022 onward. In Greece, there is a higher proportion of women than men, with a gender ratio of ninety-six men to one hundred women (0.96) (World Factbook, 2023). Despite many challenges of population fluctuations, economic crisis, and high unemployment rates, Greece managed to maintain a high Human Development Index (HDI) in (2012), ranking among the top 30 countries globally (Greece HDI score 2021,2023). In summary, Greece’s population and demographics reflect a complex interplay of historical, economic, and social factors influencing the country’s development and policies.  

Greece has emerged as a noteworthy player in the global textile and apparel industry. The country has leveraged its resources and entrepreneurial spirit to become a hub for fiber, fabric, and apparel production. In the context of fiber and textile production, Greece benefits from its favorable geographic location and climate (fea-vee.eu, 2023). There are more than five hundred apparel manufacturing companies; eighty-six resides in Athens, eighty-eight in Thessaloniki, and the rest in spread out across major cities and towns in Greece (Manufy, 2023). Greece Producing one of the finest pieces of cotton in the industry allows them to be a preferred destination for purchase (Sustainable Sourcing Simplified 2023).” Cotton, a primary source of natural fibers, thrives in the Mediterranean climate of Greece. Cotton fields cover significant portions of the country’s landscape, providing the essential raw material for textile production. 

Greece has invested in the labor force to support the apparel industry. “Therefore, access to skilled labor force at a lower cost is another advantage of clothing manufacturing companies.” On that note, due to Greece’s interconnections with other dependent industries, the labor force keeps the economy up-float (The fashion culture in Greece, 2023). The export sector for cotton. Silk and other raw materials hold employment to more than two hundred thousand workers, and businesses, both industrial and craft, are growing (fea-vee.eu,2023). Leaving every country in Greece to have at least one small or large textile production unit. Greek artisans have been known for their intricate embroidery and weaving techniques. Over time, these skills have been adapted to modern machinery and techniques, resulting in a workforce that is not only proficient but also versatile (Sustainable Sourcing Simplified, 2023). This proves the dedication Greece is making to evolve and bring change to its production industry while practicing sustainability.

Figure 3: Cotton Textile

Let’s further look into the four factors of production: land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship. Greece Capital, comprising both financial and physical assets, is essential for the modernization and growth of the textile industry. The textile industry in Greece accounts for twenty-three percent of export goods, forty-seven percent of exported industrial products, and twenty-eight percent contributed to Greece’s industrial production (Lucatheodoridis, Greece 2021) The gross value of production accounts for about three-point-five percent of total industrial production in the EU, with apparel exporters in Greece valued at about thirty- five billion. At the EU level, the sector employs more than two million people in around one hundred thousand companies. This makes the Greek textile market a significant part of the country’s economy (fea-vee.eu, 2023). Due to competition Greece has invested significantly in modern machinery and technology to stay competitive in the global market.   

Greece’s focal point is to create high-quality textile production, meaning a rise of good customer services, sustainable manufacturing readiness, short trading routes, good labor practices, and lastly business flexibility. Entrepreneurs have also adopted sustainable and eco-friendly practices, responding to the growing global demand for environmentally responsible products (Sustainable Sourcing Simplified, 2023). Universities & institutions are radically rethinking courses to meet changing student aspirations and values. This commitment to sustainability has not only improved the industry’s image but has also opened new opportunities for exports (fea-vee.eu, 2023). Greece has successfully positioned itself as a competitive player in the global textile market. This industry not only provides employment opportunities and contributes to the country’s economy but also showcases the nation’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation on the global stage.