Türkiye textile sector keeps global competitiveness through quality

Texhibition gathered key industry representatives and international buyers across a 42,850-squaremetre exhibition space with Ahmet Öksüz, chairman of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (İTHİB), emphasising Türkiye’s strategic shift from price-driven competition to a qualityfocused export strategy.

“Türkiye is not a low-cost production hub; we must compete by offering high-quality products,” said Öksüz. Despite declining global demand in 2024, he noted that Türkiye successfully maintained its textile exports (excluding apparel) at approximately $12bn: “We exported a higher volume, but the average unit price decreased due to falling global raw material costs. This is not unique to Türkiye; it is a global trend,” he told Just Style.

Recovery after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake

While Texhibition 2025 marked a success for the industry, recent challenges —particularly the impact of the earthquake centred on clothing and textile manufacturing centre Kahramanmaraş in February 2023, continues to pose signi􀀂cant hurdles for manufacturers.

Öksüz emphasised that companies are still working to ensure the city remains a vital production hub for cotton yarn, woven fabrics and knitwear: “Many companies in Kahramanmaraş suffered severe damage but have resumed operations, replaced machinery, and are gradually recovering. Production is expected to return to pre-earthquake levels by 2026,” he stated. The chairman identi􀀂ed labour shortages as the biggest challenge, explaining that many workers relocated to major cities due to housing shortages and school closures. However, government initiatives are now helping to bring workers back. Addressing investor con􀀂dence following the disaster, Öksüz noted: “Some investors have shifted away from textiles, but 90% have reinvested their insurance funds into the textile sector. The industry remains stable.” The conference has helped that con􀀂dence-building and Öksüz highlighted that Texhibition’s success lies in its commitment to quality over scale: “Many companies are waiting to participate, but not all meet the required quali􀀂cations. Some lack the necessary credentials, while others cannot be accommodated due to space constraints. Although we can expand, we maintain the five-hall format to ensure quality,” he explained. Regarding the fair’s international reach, he pointed out that while most exhibitors are Turkish companies, participants from Spain and Italy were also present: “At our last event, we had 11 international exhibitors; this time, we have seven. Our primary criterion is quality. While we welcome foreign participants, they must meet our industry standards,” he stated. Sustainability: A top priority for Türkiye’s textile industry Öksüz emphasised that sustainability remains one of the highest priorities for Türkiye’s clothing and textile industry, and Turkish companies are actively adapting to new environmental regulations: “Every year, we organise sustainability-focused discussions, which have been highly successful. However, sustainability is not solely the responsibility of producers; it also depends on customers and brands,” he explained.

One challenge is “recycled products often differ in appearance from conventional materials, leading many brands to reject them due to aesthetic concerns,” he told Just Style, adding: “Many companies have a low tolerance for minor imperfections that do not affect quality. Sustainability requires a mindset shift – not just from producers, but also brands and consumers.” In ths regard, it would be helpful if younger workers, with their energy and imagination, were attracted to work in the clothing and textile industry, but Öksüz acknowledged: “Young people generally do not prioritise working in the textile sector; they prefer the service industry. However, the sector is evolving through Industry 4.0 and digitalisation, which requires fewer workers. In new spinning mills, operations are fully automated, and you rarely see people on the factory floor.”

One successful recruitment strategy has been İTHİB’s support for textile engineering programmes: “Approximately 400 students enrol in textile engineering programmes each year. If they meet specific academic standards, we offer them scholarships.”

This scheme has been “highly successful and guarantees post-graduation employment,” he said: “Previously, enrolment rates were below 50%, but thanks to our support, interest in these programmes has doubled over the past three years, with current enrolment rates exceeding 90%.” AI-powered textiles: still in its early stages A key advantage of younger staff members is their ability to work with new technology and that includes