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The Istanbul Fashion Connection (IFCO), one of Europe’s largest ready-to-wear and fashion fairs, opened its doors for the eighth time this week at the Istanbul Expo Center on Wednesday.
Organized by the Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association (IHKIB), the event brings together international buyers and Turkish manufacturers, positioning Türkiye’s fashion industry on the global stage.
Deputy Trade Minister Ozgur Volkan Agar said at the opening ceremony that Türkiye’s apparel sector continues to demonstrate strong production capacity, design capabilities, and trade vision. He recalled that the country’s exports between January and July 2024 rose 5.2% year-over-year to $156.3 billion, reaching $270 billion over the past 12 months.
Agar noted that Türkiye ranked seventh worldwide in apparel and textile exports in 2024, while maintaining its position as the European Union’s fourth-largest supplier despite a slowdown in EU demand.
While the apparel and textile sector contributed a net $15.8 billion to the national economy in 2024, exports reached $10.7 billion in the first seven months of 2025.
Mustafa Gultepe, chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), pointed out that IFCO has become a recognized brand worldwide, attracting almost 195,000 visitors in its previous editions.
"However, after our fairs began, we faced difficulties due to shrinking global demand, and later competitiveness weakened as the balance between inflation and exchange rates was disrupted," he explained. "High interest rates and a low exchange rate have deeply harmed our labor-intensive industries. We must now use the opportunities of high technology, focus more on design, branding, and value-added products."
Türkiye's textile and apparel industry has been one of the most affected sectors in Türkiye due to tight monetary conditions ongoing since mid-2023, with soaring labor costs, limited and costlier access to loans, and shrinking demand for Turkish garments in the EU. The period also marked a shift for the industry as many of the Turkish producers turned their focus to more advantaged markets in the region, particularly Egypt, by pursuing new multi-million dollar investments in the country.
"We cannot reduce inflation by lowering production. Instead, we need to increase exports," Gultepe said, stressing that strengthening supply is essential to ease price pressures driven by demand.
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Chairman Sekib Avdagic acknowledged that apparel exports had declined in recent years but said the industry remains strong. "Our exports fell from $22 billion to $18 billion, but we know our capacity is still very strong," he stated, adding that closer collaboration with the government could help the sector surpass earlier levels.
Similarly, Istanbul Chamber of Industry Chairman Erdal Bahcivan said the fair’s strong attendance reflects optimism about the future. "Although sometimes developments create a pessimistic picture, the light at the end of the tunnel is the strength and vision of this sector," he remarked.
IHKIB Vice Chairman Mustafa Pasahan said the fair has become a central platform for Turkish fashion on the global stage. Since its launch, more than 3,000 firms have taken part, welcoming 195,000 visitors from 165 countries. He added that the industry has also benefited from 37 million euros in European Union funding for digitalization and green transformation projects.
Pasahan said that although exporters had recently faced challenges from high financing costs, currency pressures, and raw material surcharges, these difficulties were easing. He stressed that the current edition of IFCO will host 30,000 professional buyers from over 100 countries, further strengthening Türkiye’s role in the international fashion ecosystem.
The fair will remain open to visitors at the Istanbul Expo Center until Friday.
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