Special Report – Turkey Published on
Special Report Turkey 🇹🇷
Live from the Market
The Turkish textile industry has successfully navigated through recent turbulence
Turkey is poised for growth in 2024, driven by a ‘green vision’.
The Turkish textile industry, renowned globally for the brand ‘Made In Turkey’, is embarking on a new era on a global scale. Operating with a holistic production model encompassing textile and raw materials to ready-made clothing and apparel, Turkey maintains a strong presence across all sectors. Despite facing significant challenges in 2023, including high inflation, increased production costs, and fluctuating exchange rates, the industry emerged resilient. Viewing these challenges as opportunities for progress, the Turkish textile industry has developed new strategies, accelerated research and development processes, and embraced sustainable practices as a core vision, gearing up for a resurgence in 2024.
Integrated production at a glance
According to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the Turkish textile industry, categorized into textile/raw materials and ready-made clothing/apparel, boasts integrated production, a rarity globally. With 25 000 textile and raw material producers and 52 000 ready-made clothing producers, Turkey stands as a dominant force in international markets. Ranked as the world’s fourth-largest textile and raw material producer and the fifth-largest exporter of ready-made clothing and apparel, Turkey holds a 3.5 percent share of the global market. Moreover, within the European Union, Turkey maintains its position as the third-largest exporter of ready-made clothing and apparel, commanding a 12 percent market share.
Top 3 exporter status
Despite the challenges of 2023, the Turkish textile industry remains a key driver of Turkey’s exports, ranking third among sectors with the highest export volumes, following automotive and chemical exports. In 2023, Turkey’s exports of ready-made clothing and apparel reached $19.3 billion, a 9.2 percent decrease compared to 2022.
Notably, 59.9 percent of industry-specific exports were directed to European Union (EU) countries, with Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, England, and France leading the list. Additionally, exports from the textile and raw materials industry worldwide are projected to reach $10 billion in 2023, with Italy, Germany, the USA, Spain, and England featuring among the top exporters. With export-supporting policies, financial discipline, and robust measures in place, Turkey aims to set new export records in 2024, particularly within the ready-made clothing and apparel industry, targeting exports of $20 billion.
Global design influence
Distinguished for its world-class production and ‘Made In Turkey’ hallmark, the Turkish textile industry serves as a primary supplier to global brands. From Chanel to Louis Vuitton, Zara to Gucci, and Max Mara, Turkey’s reputation for high-quality products and advanced expertise, driven by its skilled workforce, has solidified its position in the global market. Moreover, Turkish designers are leaving their mark on the world stage, with their designs showcased internationally. Departing from a mere customer-driven production model, Turkish designers are now showcasing their own collections to global brands, further enhancing Turkey’s global influence.
Embracing sustainability
Aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement and the European Green Deal, Turkey is accelerating its efforts towards sustainability. Spearheading the green transformation, the textile industry has long been investing in initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality.
With sustainability at the forefront of innovation and R&D endeavors, leading companies in both the textile and ready-made clothing sectors are undergoing significant transformations, from investing in solar energy to implementing waste management and water-saving initiatives, and prioritizing recycling and product life cycle design. Anticipating accelerated progress, particularly in the latter half of 2024, the Turkish textile industry aims to cement its position among the global leaders with its vision of ‘Sustainable Textile’.
Publish on 21 May 2024
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UMITUNAL OFFICIAL
Ready to wear / high-end
UMITUNAL, based in Istanbul, was founded in 1992 on an avant-garde and unisex fashion approach.
Since 1998, Düsseldorf, Paris, New York and Berlin have been the primary centers chosen by the brand, which sells and showcases its collections and philosophy in concept stores all over the world.
The designs of Ümit Ünal – who embraces real-life looks as a guiding principle, incorporating extraordinary techniques from the past – references and re-interprets men’s and women’s lifestyles with an eye to their personal preferences.
OZ OBJECT
Accessories / fashion jewelry
Öz Objects Milano is a costume jewelry brand.
Each jewelry item gives the impression of being part of the body, and is ergonomically and flexibly designed.
Inspired by the malleability of the paste itself, the pieces in the collection capture the fluidity of the human form. Meticulously handcrafted, the designs showcase playful paste manipulations, in a spirit of artistic innovation. With baguettes, crescents and more, the collection features genuine paste jewelry adorned with gold plating.
Conceived and shaped with the softness of paste, each piece embodies playful innovation.