“Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition is a Platform for Sharing Technologies and Strategic Collaborations”
Interview: Tuğba KARADEMİR
Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition, which tracks developments in fashion and ready-to-wear technologies, brought together industry professionals and put both innovative technologies and solutions to current economic challenges on the agenda.
The exhibition, which showcased the latest developments in fashion and ready-to-wear technologies, reunited sector professionals. The focus of the event was not only on advanced technologies but also on strategic solutions developed in response to the economic difficulties faced by the industry. Statements from Glengo Lectra Technology General Manager Aykut Vural and Lectra Chief Customer Officer Javier Garcia during the exhibition highlighted the critical role technology will play in the transformation of the sector. In this regard, Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition has become not just a product exhibition area but an important platform where ideas, technologies, and strategic collaborations that will shape the future of the textile and ready-to-wear industry are shared.
“With Industry 4.0 Integration, Fabric Waste Becomes a Thing of the Past”
Glengo Lectra General Manager Aykut Vural emphasized that the exhibition’s return after a three-year hiatus was a major opportunity for the sector. He highlighted significant technological leaps during this period and made the following statements:
“At the Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition, we had the opportunity to introduce the latest technologies developed over the past three years to the industry. We especially focused on Industry 4.0 applications during this time. Now, all systems can digitally communicate and share data with each other. This integration has made production processes more efficient and controllable.”
Vural pointed out that the two largest cost components in garment manufacturing are labor and fabric, and continued: “With our new solutions, we aim to minimize these two main cost items. In particular, our Zero Buffer cutting technology operates with virtually zero fabric waste. In the past, fabric loss rates of 5% to 7% were considered normal. Now, we are eliminating that waste. Additionally, our machines now require less labor, which both increases efficiency and provides significant cost advantages for manufacturers.”
“Investing in New Technologies Could Halt the Decline”
Vural also touched on the economic challenges in Turkiye, noting the exhibition’s critical role in this regard: “As we all know, the Turkish garment industry is going through a tough time due to exchange rate pressure, rising production costs, and declining export orders. There’s also been a significant decrease in the workforce. However, the advanced technologies showcased at this exhibition offer companies a way out. Old technologies are no longer sustainable. That’s why it’s essential for manufacturers to adopt systems that allow them to produce with lower costs and higher quality. Strategic investments in new technologies could slow down, or even reverse, the current decline.”
“Istanbul as a Strategic Meeting Point”
Commenting on the exhibition being held in Istanbul and its international importance, Vural added: “Istanbul has historically been a crossroads of East and West, a hub of trade and culture. It continues to play that role today. Hosting a technology exhibition of this scale in such a city offers a great advantage for both local producers and international visitors. Istanbul’s selection as the venue is one of the key factors contributing to the success of the exhibition.”
“Accelerating the Fashion Industry’s Digital Transformation with Valia Fashion”
On the international side of the Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition, Lectra’s Chief Customer Officer Javier Garcia’s statements drew particular attention. Garcia emphasized that the next-generation solution Valia Fashion, introduced in Turkiye for the first time, marks a turning point in the digital transformation of fashion: “Valia Fashion, which we’re introducing today, is revolutionizing the cutting processes in the fashion industry through digitalization. This system integrates Industry 4.0 technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. As a result, faster production, fewer errors, and lower costs become possible. Manual, human-centered processes are now giving way to smart and automated systems.”
“With Lectra 4.0, We Aim to Be the Digital Leader by 2030”
Garcia also explained the company’s digitalization strategy Lectra 4.0, launched in 2017: “Since 2017, Lectra has made major investments in Industry 4.0 technologies. Our goal is to become the leading player in digital transformation across all our sectors—fashion, automotive, and furniture—by 2030. Our solutions tailored for the fashion industry, such as Kubix Link (PLM) and Textile Genesis, have garnered great interest. Each of them is designed to meet the sector’s needs based on principles of sustainability and transparency.”
Garcia further stated that 2024 was a record-breaking financial year: “We closed 2024 with €527 million in revenue and over €91 million in EBITDA. Compared to the previous year, this represents 10% and 15% growth, respectively. We achieved this despite a global environment full of economic uncertainties.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Garcia concluded with cautious optimism: “The new year presents many unpredictable variables in the market. However, with Lectra’s strong financial structure, high level of recurring revenue, and innovative solutions, we will continue to stand by our clients in all circumstances. Our goal is not just to increase revenue but also to support the fashion industry in adapting to changing conditions and becoming stronger through digital transformation.”
