Organised by the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Associations (ITKİB) in collaboration with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB), Texhibition showcased a surge in all aspects, including a 25.5% increase in exhibitor count, 26.5% in visitor turnout as well as a 133% increase in exhibition space.
25,752 visitors came from over 112 countries including:
- 41.8% from the European Union (including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Romania etc.) and Great Britain, Ukraine,
- 26.5% from Asia (including Russia etc.),
- 14.8% from the Middle East (including Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia)
- 10.7% from North Africa (including Algeria, Tunisia etc.),
- 3.1% from North America (United States, Canada),
- 3.1% from South America and other countries.
Fatih Bilici, ITHIB vice president and Texhibition Istanbul chairman said: “We have brought together the best companies in the country at Texhibition, with a further 200 companies already on the waiting list. The fair is internationally competitive and well on its way to becoming the new centre of global textile events."
Exports are the focus of the Turkish textile and clothing industry. The Turkish textile and clothing sector is expected to reach a total export value of $28.5bn in 2023. With annual exports of $12bn, the Turkish textile sector ranks fifth among global textile exporters and is the second largest supplier to the EU.
Ahmet Öksüz, chairman of the board of ITHIB, emphasised the importance of exports for the Turkish apparel industry and said: “The competitiveness of the Turkish garment industry is currently weakened by rising labour costs, but we are nevertheless seeing an upward trend in exports. The industry is optimistic and continues to focus on innovation, diversification and adaptability to strengthen its position in the global market.”
Öksüz highlighted the recent partnership between the Istanbul Apparel Exporter’s Association (IHKIB) and the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) in fostering business relations within Turkiye and the US through a co-developed pilot project which aims to identify Turkish apparel companies exporting to the US and incentivise then to obtain WRAP certification.
He added: “As industry representatives, we are actively committed to promoting the development of the textile industry in the country in order to successfully meet global challenges."
The Texhibition Istanbul served as a platform, featuring a wide array of products spanning woven goods, knitwear, accessories, and artificial leather. The event introduced new specialised areas, including dedicated halls for yarns and denim, exemplified by the BlueBlackDenim Hall.
The exhibition floor buzzed with activity as leading names in the textile industry congregated to showcase their latest innovations. Noteworthy participants included denim companies like Bossa, Çalık, İsko, İskur, and Kipaş along with yarn specialists like Aksa, Diktaş, Ensar, Karafiber, Kaplanlar, Korteks, Migiteks, Sasa and Tepar
In addition to well-known market giants such as Almodo, Bahariye, BTD, Can Textile, Menderes, Söktaş, Yünsa, Zorlu, İpeker a large number of other efficient export-oriented companies from the segments of textiles (woven fabrics, knitting) presented their latest designs and products.
"This is our fourth time at Texhibition, we are using the trade fair to expand our international network and have welcomed trade visitors from Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Romania, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt in particular. We benefit greatly from our participation in the trade fair," said Tamer Nalbant, co-founder of Arta Tekstil.
The event's supporting programme featured a diverse array of seminars and workshops, providing insights into organic and sustainable practices, technological advancements, denim trends, and climate-independent designs.
Additionally, the Texhibition Trend Area curated by Idil Tarzi offered trend information, while the Innovation Hub showcased projects shaping the future of the textile sector.
