ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey’s leading fashion designers and apparel brands announced plans to turn Istanbul into a “fashion capital” at the Istanbul Fashion Week, or IFW, meeting on Wednesday. Exporters are expecting to increase textile exports to $60 billion.
IFW will be organized by the Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Association, or İTKİB, with the support of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture agency, the Fashion Designers Association, or MTD, and the United Brands Association, or BMD, and will take place from Aug. 25 to 28.
“We aim to transform Istanbul into one of the most inspiring fashion capitals in the world along with New York, London and Milan,” said İTKİB Chairman Hikmet Tanrıverdi at the meeting.
He said the goal of IFW is to increase the visibility of Turkish fashion designers in the region and in the local market and to contribute to the national image, creating new potential for textile exports.
Emphasizing the competitive power of the Turkish textile and fashion sector, Tanrıverdi said: “India and China are not Turkey’s competitors anymore. Our competitors are the fashionmonger countries,” he said. “Total Turkish textile exports are still around $15 billion due to low brand awareness about Turkish products.”
“Istanbul is one of the fastest growing ready-wear manufacture and design centers of fashion in the world,” said Şekib Avdagiç, chairman of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture agency. “I believe Istanbul Fashion Week will act as a fashion bridge between Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.”
World famous successful Turkish fashion designers will present during Istanbul Fashion Week, including Dice Kayek, Atıl Kutoğlu and Bora Aksu, said Süleyman Orakçıoğlu, the chairman of the IFW Advisory Board. “IFW will strengthen our country’s fashion, design and textile sectors in a melting pot.”
“Turkey produces well in comparison to many countries,” Chairman of United Brands Association, or BMD, Yılmaz Yılmaz said: “[But] now it is time to combine this force with the creative part of designs.” Yılmaz said their goal is to increase total exports to $60 billion in few years’ time.”
İTKİB announced the start of an extensive cooperation for attracting global investors and sponsors for IWF with Creative Artists Agency UK, which has organized high-level events such as the Oscar awards and the Cannes film festival. “Having a spectacular history and a unique cultural heritage, Istanbul is one of the most inspiring cities of all time and currently had economic dynamism and trade potential,” said Peter Draper from Creative Artists Agency UK.