Turkey seeks to carve out new niche in global fashion industry
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
ISTANBUL, Aug 31 (AFP): Turkey is seeking to carve out a new niche in the global fashion market by promoting its dynamic generation of young designers.
With a solid reputation for textiles and production for big international brands like Gap and Dolce & Gabbana, it sees its home-grown creativity as the best strategy to combat the threat to the sector from China and the Far East.
"Our target is to make Istanbul one of the top five world fashion capitals, alongside Paris, Milan, New York and London," Hikmet Tanriverdi, the new chairman of ITKIB, the body representing manufacturers and designers told AFP.
Tanriverdi was the prime mover behind the just-ended Istanbul Fashion Days, the first event to present designers and brands under one roof to invited international press and buyers.
The initiative has enthusiastic government backing, with good reason: 55 per cent of Turkey's exports are to Europe, of which 82 per cent are in the apparel sector.
Minister of State for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan said Turkey was already "an address for good quality clothing" but needed to develop strong brands with wider recognition.
He was optimistic about the sector's future, while frustrated at delays in Turkey achieving its goal to become a full member of the European Union.
"When it does, the EU's border will touch Asia. Turkey is a bridge, an excellent corridor between the East and West. It is only four hours by plane to more than 50 countries-a quarter of the world's population and a quarter of the world's economy."
While Turkey's clothing sector had been hit by the global recession, the effect had been mitigated by the falling exchange rate of the local currency to the euro, he said.
As to competition from cheaper Asian imports, he told AFP he was confident: "There are international trade laws which must be respected. I do not see China as a threat. I see China as an opportunity, in fact I am flying there tomorrow at the invitation of the prime minister and foreign ministers."
Odile Baudelaire, a Paris-based agent who advises the buyers of specialty stores like Nordstrom in the United States and Myer in Australia, agrees.
"The price is a bit higher in Turkey than China but creativity and design is much better. So are the fabrics."
Michael Bonzom, a trend spotter for the NellyRodi agency and style consultant, noted there is already regional cooperation over the Asian competition: "Turkey, Morocco and Italy are all trying to get together to beat the threat from China."
Turkey's very good reputation for respecting production deadlines and delivering on time was in its favour, he added.
On the likely future success of Istanbul fashion week in attracting international press and buyers, opinions were reserved.
With a solid reputation for textiles and production for big international brands like Gap and Dolce & Gabbana, it sees its home-grown creativity as the best strategy to combat the threat to the sector from China and the Far East.
"Our target is to make Istanbul one of the top five world fashion capitals, alongside Paris, Milan, New York and London," Hikmet Tanriverdi, the new chairman of ITKIB, the body representing manufacturers and designers told AFP.
Tanriverdi was the prime mover behind the just-ended Istanbul Fashion Days, the first event to present designers and brands under one roof to invited international press and buyers.
The initiative has enthusiastic government backing, with good reason: 55 per cent of Turkey's exports are to Europe, of which 82 per cent are in the apparel sector.
Minister of State for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan said Turkey was already "an address for good quality clothing" but needed to develop strong brands with wider recognition.
He was optimistic about the sector's future, while frustrated at delays in Turkey achieving its goal to become a full member of the European Union.
"When it does, the EU's border will touch Asia. Turkey is a bridge, an excellent corridor between the East and West. It is only four hours by plane to more than 50 countries-a quarter of the world's population and a quarter of the world's economy."
While Turkey's clothing sector had been hit by the global recession, the effect had been mitigated by the falling exchange rate of the local currency to the euro, he said.
As to competition from cheaper Asian imports, he told AFP he was confident: "There are international trade laws which must be respected. I do not see China as a threat. I see China as an opportunity, in fact I am flying there tomorrow at the invitation of the prime minister and foreign ministers."
Odile Baudelaire, a Paris-based agent who advises the buyers of specialty stores like Nordstrom in the United States and Myer in Australia, agrees.
"The price is a bit higher in Turkey than China but creativity and design is much better. So are the fabrics."
Michael Bonzom, a trend spotter for the NellyRodi agency and style consultant, noted there is already regional cooperation over the Asian competition: "Turkey, Morocco and Italy are all trying to get together to beat the threat from China."
Turkey's very good reputation for respecting production deadlines and delivering on time was in its favour, he added.
On the likely future success of Istanbul fashion week in attracting international press and buyers, opinions were reserved.