Why Turkey?

The Turkish textile sector has the competencies and attributes to meet the sector's sustainability expectations. With its standards and measures in agriculture, raw materials, production, environmental safeguards, geographical location, and social compliance, it is the address where brand owners can fulfil their sustainability strategy, vision and expectations in one place, under one roof and together.

WHY TURKEY?

- Turkish textile and apparel industry can compete in the green market with the countries in the Far East where it cannot compete in terms of cost due to the new environmental legislation.

- The opportunities offered by the green market support our industry in terms of environmental awareness in world markets and targeting the green market. According to recent research, the green market is worth £3.2 trillion, and this figure is increasing by 4% every year. 40% of U.S. consumers and 50% of European consumers value green products. Brand designers and buyers prefer products with sustainability certification.

-At the end of 2018, Turkey is the world's 7th largest textile exporting country, the 7th largest ready-made garment exporter, the 4th largest home textile exporter, the 3rd largest denim fabric exporter, and the 3rd largest ready-made garment supplier in Europe. Turkey is also the world's 3rd largest exporter of denim fabrics.

Turkey is the largest textile producing country in the European continent. Moreover, our country is the 7th largest cotton producer in the world. The production line built for home textiles is the largest production line in the world. The largest bed linen factory in Europe is in Turkey. It is one of the three largest suppliers of towels in the world. Turkey's share in global textile exports is about 3%, 4.5% for home and interior textiles and 1.5% for technical textiles (2017).

- Turkey has now risen from the status of the country that follows trends in the textile sector to the status of the country that creates trends and fashion. This success is the accomplishment of our companies that understand the importance of original designs and focus on innovation and design.

- Turkey is located at a point that can be called the center of the world and is only a few hours' flight away from Europe, North Africa, West Asia, and Middle Eastern countries. The industry can distinguish itself in the world market with a skilled workforce, production according to the technical and health standards of the European Union, fast and flawless production in terms of fast fashion and environmentally friendly production processes,

- Turkish home textile industry produces specially designed products with added value. With the developments in the field of smart and high-tech fabrics and interior decoration, it has also become a world brand and has completed major projects such as airports, large hotel chains, restaurants, sports complexes, and the like in most countries of the world.

- On the other hand, in the ready-to-wear sector, Turkey has risen to a preferred position for high-end and mid-range ready-to-wear products, supplying products to global brands all over the world.

HOW DID THE TURKISH TEXTILE INDUSTRY GROW?

- The low production costs and high quality in our country have increased the competitiveness of Turkish textile products in the international market.

- The production of high-quality value-added cotton, organic cotton and better cotton has been highly evaluated.

- The factories producing cotton yarns located in our country have gained a significant advantage. The garment industry is labor intensive and does not require much capital.

- Our country is geographically close to buyers' markets.

REFERENCES:
Duenya Ticaret Oerguetue WTO. 2018. www.wto.org.
International Trade Centre (ITC). 2018. www.trademap.org.
İstanbul Tekstil ve Konfeksiyon İhracatçıları Birliği Genel Sekreterliği. 2018. www.itkib.org.tr.
İş Bankası. 2018. www.isbank.com.tr.
T.C. Ticaret Bakanlığı. 2018. www.ticaret.gov.tr.