Turkish Apparel Industry Showcased Its Strength in Paris
The Aegean Apparel and Garment Exporters’ Association (EHKİB) organized its 21st national participation at Premiere Vision Manufacturing Paris, one of the world’s leading and prestigious events for the fashion industry, held from September 1–3, 2026.
Held twice a year in Paris, one of the major centers of the global fashion industry, Premiere Vision Paris brought together all components of the fashion industry under one roof, from apparel to fabrics, yarns to leather, accessories to design.
Participating in the fair with 19 Turkish apparel exporters, EHKIB presented the industry’s production capabilities, design strength, flexible manufacturing infrastructure and transformation in sustainability to international buyers.
“France is the World’s Third-Largest Apparel Importer”
Çağlar Bağcı, Chairman of the Aegean Apparel and Garment Exporters’ Association, said that the European Union is the most important export market for Türkiye’s apparel industry, while France is one of the sector’s leading strategic markets.
Bağcı noted that Türkiye’s apparel exports to France amounted to approximately USD 468 million in January–July 2026, down 13 percent compared with the same period of the previous year, and continued:
“France is Türkiye’s sixth-largest market for apparel and garment exports. For the Aegean Apparel and Garment Exporters’ Association, France ranks as our eighth-largest export market. France imported approximately USD 30 billion worth of apparel in 2025, making it the world’s third-largest apparel importer after the United States and Germany. Türkiye is France’s fourth-largest apparel supplier after China, Bangladesh and Italy. This picture clearly demonstrates the potential that the French market holds for our industry.”
“Türkiye is Among the Fair’s Strongest Participating Countries”
Underlining that Premiere Vision Paris is a critical platform for strengthening the Turkish fashion industry’s position in Europe, Bağcı stated that Türkiye’s strong presence at the fair dates back many years.
Bağcı said: “Türkiye is among the countries sending the highest number of exhibitors to Premiere Vision Paris, with approximately 200 fabric, apparel, leather and accessories manufacturers. This strong participation is also an indication of the importance of the Turkish fashion industry within the global supply chain. As Türkiye, we differentiate ourselves from our competitors through our geographical proximity to Europe, our fast and flexible production capabilities, strong textile and apparel infrastructure, design expertise and investments in sustainable production.”
“We Have to Shift from Price Competition to Value-Added Competition”
Pointing out that the Turkish apparel industry has faced intense competition in global markets in recent years, Bağcı emphasized that Türkiye has been struggling to compete with its Asian and North African rivals, particularly in price-driven orders, due to rising production costs.
Bağcı continued: “For our apparel industry to regain momentum in global competition, we need to focus not on price competition but on design, innovation, sustainability, digitalization, fast delivery and high value-added production. Europe’s growing tendency to source from nearby regions represents an important opportunity for Türkiye. To make this advantage sustainable, we need to increase our direct contact with customers and maintain a strong presence at international trade fairs. From this perspective, we see Premiere Vision Paris not merely as a trade fair, but as a strategic platform where our industry can strengthen its relationships with existing customers in Europe and establish new business connections.”
“We Want to Protect and Increase Our Market Share in France”
Seray Seyfeli, Member of the Board of Directors of the Aegean Apparel and Garment Exporters’ Association and Chair of the Foreign Markets Committee, pointed out that the Turkish apparel industry has lost a significant portion of the cost advantage it enjoyed in previous years due to rising production costs.
Emphasizing that maintaining Türkiye’s strong position in the French market is of great importance to the industry, Seyfeli said: “Strong exporting countries such as India, Vietnam and Tunisia are right behind us in the French market. We need to maintain close contact with our customers in order to protect our current position against these countries and increase our market share. This is why regular participation in globally recognized industry fairs such as Premiere Vision Paris is extremely important.”
“Being Close to Customers Is More Important Than Ever”
Seyfeli noted that, in addition to price, speed, flexibility, quality, the ability to produce in small quantities, sustainability and traceability have become increasingly decisive criteria in European brands’ sourcing decisions, adding that Türkiye has significant advantages in these areas.
Seyfeli said: “Our proximity to the European market is one of the most important advantages of our industry. However, geographical proximity alone is not enough. We have to closely monitor buyers’ changing expectations, further develop our sustainable production infrastructure, strengthen our design and collection capabilities, and remain in constant communication with our customers. PV Paris is therefore extremely valuable for our industry. As EHKIB, we are participating in the fair with 19 companies. While helping our companies reach new customers, we also aim to strengthen their commercial relationships with existing customers.”
Approximately 1,000 Manufacturers from 40 Countries Met in Paris
Premiere Vision Paris, one of the key meeting points for the global fashion industry, brought together textile and fashion professionals from around the world in Paris.
As part of the fair, approximately 1,000 manufacturers from 40 countries operating in various segments of the fashion industry, particularly yarn, fabric, leather, apparel, accessories and design, presented their collections to international buyers.
The February 2026 edition of Premiere Vision Paris was visited by approximately 20,000 industry professionals. The September edition also brought together purchasing teams from leading global fashion brands, designers, manufacturers, suppliers and industry professionals in Paris.
