Apparel Industry Charts Its Course with “Compass for a New Order”

The 18^th Istanbul Apparel Conference, organized by the Turkish Clothing Manufacturers’ Association (TGSD) under the theme “Compass of the New Order” and among the sponsors of the ITM 2026 Exhibition, became a platform for shaping the future of the industry. The two-day event focused on digitalization, sustainability, branding, and green transformation as its main agenda items.

Held annually since 2008 and featured on the international calendar, the Istanbul Ready-to-Wear Conference opened its doors for the 18^th time this year. Organized by TGSD under the theme “Compass for a New Order,” the event took place on October 7–8 at Çırağan Palace Kempinski.

“We Cannot Recompense the Cost of Crises Alone”

In his opening speech, TGSD President Toygar Narbay emphasized that the world is undergoing a profound transformation. “Since the global financial crisis, economic, political, and geopolitical balances have shifted; protectionism has risen, and uncertainties have increased. In such a period, we must determine our direction correctly and manage the transformation,” he said. Narbay underlined that high interest rates and a suppressed exchange rate policy have caused significant losses in the industry, with a 22% decline in production and a 28% drop in employment. “It’s impossible for us to overcome this crisis—one we did not create—on our own. Government support is not a choice but a necessity. However, we must also do our part, set new goals, and act together,” he stated.

“2026 will Be a Year of Balance, 2027 a Year of Growth”

Narbay emphasized that a “Türkiye Brand” could be established through collaboration among strong sectors such as apparel, textiles, fashion, tourism, and gastronomy.
“If we combine this potential with a qualified production chain, we can stand out in global competition. Sectors, government, and academia must unite around a shared vision,” he noted, adding that global apparel trade is nearing a recovery.  “2026 will be a year of balance, and 2027 a year of renewed growth. With the right support, Türkiye can quickly recover its losses,” Narbay said. He concluded by stressing the importance of industry for a sustainable economy:
“Even as artificial intelligence and robotics evolve rapidly, there is still human labor behind every machine. The apparel and textile industries provide jobs for 850,000 people and generate over USD 27 billion in exports. Abandoning these sectors would mean abandoning our future.”

Dr. Ümit Özüren: As Long as We Move Together, We will Not Lose Our Way

TGSD Co-President Dr. Ümit Özüren highlighted the broader value created by Türkiye’s apparel and textile industries beyond production power. “Our journey that begins with yarn and fabric is transforming into a process where we weave the future. Every product carries labor, dedication, and hope for tomorrow,” he said. “With our deep-rooted experience, strong production capacity, young population, and innovative spirit, we are ready to overcome upcoming challenges and strengthen our place in global competition. As long as we move together, we will not lose our way, and as Türkiye’s ready-to-wear industry, we will leave a lasting mark on the world of tomorrow.”

Mustafa Paşahan: We will Use the €37 Million EU Grant to Accelerate Digital and Green Transformation

Mustafa Paşahan, Vice President of the Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association (IHKIB), emphasized that the apparel sector is one of Türkiye’s strategic industries with its value-added production structure, high employment rate, and export power. “With USD 16.4 per kilogram, our industry leads in export unit value and accounts for 14% of total manufacturing employment,” said Paşahan. “In 2022, we achieved a historic export record of USD 21.2 billion, but in 2024 this figure declined to USD 17.9 billion. We are not accustomed to losing—through hard work, we will succeed again,” he added.

Paşahan noted that İHKİB has taken significant steps in branding, digitalization, and sustainability and announced that they have secured €37 million in grant funding through EU partnerships. “These funds will be used to accelerate digital and green transformation, reduce carbon footprints, and complete the transition to branded production,” he said.

Ahmet Öksüz: We Are Working Intensively on Concordat Regulations

At the conference, Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Association (ITHIB) President Ahmet Öksüz pointed out that the textile and apparel industries are two complementary strategic sectors. “It is impossible for a country without a strong textile infrastructure to develop a competitive apparel sector. Our USD 78 billion production power comes from this synergy,” said Öksüz, adding that despite challenging production conditions, they take pride in contributing to the national economy.

Öksüz emphasized that the two sectors together generate USD 16.8 billion in net foreign exchange surplus for Türkiye, underscoring their strategic importance. “Today, the U.S. and EU countries are investing billions of dollars in textile manufacturing. We cannot afford to abandon this sector. However, issues such as access to financing, labor, and energy costs are weakening our competitiveness. We are sharing our proposals with relevant ministries,” he stated.
Öksüz added that they are working intensively on concordat regulation updates and that the industry must define its own roadmap to adapt to new global dynamics. “This conference will make a valuable contribution in helping our industry find its direction in the new order. I also believe the B2B meetings here will provide great benefits to our companies,” he concluded.

Mustafa Gültepe: We Expect to Close 2025 with USD 17 Billion in Exports

In a video message, Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) President Mustafa Gültepe emphasized that apparel and textiles remain two indispensable sectors for Türkiye.
“We are global players in both sectors, and they will continue to hold strategic importance for our economy,” he said. However, Gültepe noted that the high-interest–low-exchange-rate policy of the past two years has weakened competitiveness. “We have lost customers and markets because we couldn’t match prices. In the first nine months of this year, exports reached USD 12.7 billion, and we expect to close 2025 at around USD 17 billion,” he said. Despite the challenges, Gültepe highlighted the sector’s resilience: “These difficulties have made us more resilient and innovative. We are now producing more sustainably and accelerating through digitalization.”

The first day of the two-day conference, held on October 7-8, explored the four paths that make up the “Compass for a New Order” from different perspectives: “new economic balances,” “new markets,” “innovation,” and “branding.” Throughout the day, panels featuring expert guests discussed topics such as the trajectory of ready-to-wear clothing in this new order, future scenarios for ready-to-wear manufacturers, financial instruments and guarantees, as well as artificial intelligence and fashion. Views were exchanged on a wide range of topics, from future supply chains to new market strategies, from responsible production to digitalization.

Over 1,500 B2B Meetings Held

The second and final day of the two-day conference, hosted by TGSD Presidents Toygar Narbay and Dr. Ümit Özüren, was dedicated to B2B business meetings as in previous years.
According to Narbay, over 1,500 meetings were held with the participation of global buying groups, leading Turkish e-commerce platforms, and domestic manufacturers, under the support of the Ministry of Trade. “Although cost pressures have reduced our competitiveness, Türkiye remains one of the top choices of global buyers thanks to our production quality, design capabilities, innovation strength, logistics advantages, and proximity,” said Narbay.
He added that 54 buying groups, mainly from Europe, attended the meetings this year, and 6 sourcing offices from the U.S. were invited with support from the Ministry of Trade.
“Our goal is to increase this number to 20 next year to further expand market diversity and create new partnerships,” Narbay stated.

ITM 2026 Exhibition Ranks Among Sponsors

The 18^th Istanbul Ready-to-Wear Conference was sponsored by Anadolu Sigorta and Türkiye İş Bankası as main sponsors, and Uçak Tekstil as theme sponsor. Other supporters included bluesign, Control Union, Cotton Council, DHL Express, Eurofins, Galata Taşımacılık, GIZIA, IFCO, Kumaş Tekstil, Nebim, Permess, Polytropon, Power FM, Refabric, SGS, Shein, SML Seamless, Tradewind, The organizers of the ITM 2026 Exhibition are Teknik Fairs Inc. and Tüyap Tüm Fuarcılık Inc., Texhibition, and YKK.