The largest gathering of the ready-to-wear industry took place at Fuarizmir between 12–15 October 2022. Bringing together fabric, garment sub-industry, ready-to-wear apparel, garment machinery and textile printing technologies under one roof, the Fashion Prime and Fashion Tech expos opened a powerful gateway for trade across the industry.
Organized by İZFAŞ under the hosting of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Fashion Prime – Textile, Ready-to-Wear Suppliers and Technologies Expo, together with Fashion Tech – Ready-to-Wear, Garment and Textile Machinery, Textile Printing Technologies Expo, organized by İZFAŞ in cooperation with İzgi Fuarcılık, further strengthened the position of İzmir—the capital of Türkiye's ready-to-wear and textile industry. Bringing together every segment of the industry in a single venue, the two expos successfully united the sector while earning high praise from exhibitors and visitors alike. This year, with an expanded exhibition area, a greater number of exhibitors and a broader product range, the events generated an increase in commercial collaborations. By bringing together ready-to-wear manufacturers, representatives of global brands, machinery companies and suppliers with both domestic and international visitors, the expos are expected to further accelerate the industry's export performance.
In addition to welcoming thousands of domestic visitors, the Fashion Prime and Fashion Tech expos hosted numerous international buyers from dozens of countries across Europe, Central and Northern Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Americas. With the support of the Ministry of Trade, international buyer delegations were organized by the Aegean Ready-to-Wear and Apparel Exporters' Association and the Denizli Exporters' Associations for both events.
Fashion Tech Expo welcomed 7,001 visitors, including 6,644 domestic visitors from 19 provinces across Türkiye and 357 international visitors from 40 countries, ranging from Germany and the United States to China and the United Kingdom.
Fashion Prime Expo, meanwhile, attracted 6,007 visitors, including 5,293 domestic visitors from 20 provinces and 714 international visitors from 49 countries, extending from Denmark and South Korea to Kazakhstan and Italy.
The Expos Were Highly Successful
Canan Karaosmanoğlu Alıcı, General Manager of İZFAŞ, stated that both expos achieved outstanding results, emphasizing that they continue to work in line with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer's vision of transforming İzmir into a city of exhibitions.
"The ready-to-wear and apparel industry, which achieved a record-breaking USD 16.17 billion in exports across Türkiye during the first nine months of this year, also demonstrated remarkable interest in our expos. Compared to the previous year, Fashion Prime and Fashion Tech doubled in size, taking place across 50,000 square metres with the participation of 430 brands. Both expos generated a high level of satisfaction among exhibitors, visitors and the industry as a whole.
In cooperation with the Aegean Exporters' Associations and the Denizli Exporters' Associations, we successfully organized extensive hosted buyer programmes for both events. Over 1,000 international visitors concluded significant business agreements with our exhibitors throughout the three-day exhibition.
As of 30 September 2022, ready-to-wear and apparel exporters affiliated with the Aegean Exporters' Associations recorded USD 1.54 billion in exports, representing a 5.92% increase compared to the same period of the previous year, with a medium-term export target of USD 2 billion. Our expos have served as an important gateway to international markets, contributing to this objective.
As with all the exhibitions we organize throughout the year, we will continue to strengthen the industry, enhance its international visibility, contribute to exports, and support İzmir's economy through the synergy created by thousands of exhibitors and visitors."
The Expos Will Gain International Recognition
Mustafa Kemal Hızarcıoğlu, Founding Partner of İZGİ Fuarcılık, expressed his satisfaction at organizing an exhibition concept long awaited by the industry in İzmir, the capital of Türkiye's textile sector, in partnership with İZFAŞ.
"Fashion Tech and Fashion Prime complemented one another perfectly, delivering maximum value to both exhibitors and visitors. Our expos attracted significant interest from international ready-to-wear and apparel investors. In the coming years, they will evolve into internationally recognised exhibitions and position İzmir and Türkiye among the hosts of one of the world's leading textile industry events. Domestically, these exhibitions have also become a source of hope by bringing together a sector that had long been fragmented under a single roof."
They Will Make a Positive Contribution to Export Performance
Burak Sertbaş, Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Ready-to-Wear and Apparel Exporters' Association, noted that holding the two expos simultaneously created positive momentum for the industry.
"From the perspective of an exporters' association, we expect exhibitions to create tangible value for our industry. We participated with 35 companies, and the hosted buyer programme organized by the Aegean Exporters' Associations resulted in highly productive B2B meetings. Our exhibitors were extremely pleased with the first day's outcomes, and we are confident that these contacts will develop into new business partnerships.
Although these exhibitions are still relatively new, they are steadily establishing themselves with an increasingly strong exhibitor profile. We believe that both domestic and international visitor numbers will continue to grow in the coming years. Everyone involved in Türkiye's textile industry should be part of these exhibitions.
With the right planning, timing and strategic development, these expos will continue to expand and attract even more international exhibitors. Events of this scale make a meaningful contribution to export performance, which is why we attach great importance to them."
Together, We Will Raise the Bar Even Higher
Hayati Ertuğrul, Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association (EGSD), stated that the two expos have become a key meeting point for the industry.
"For the past 16 years, we have been organizing IF Wedding Fashion İzmir – Bridal, Groom and Evening Wear Expo in partnership with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and İZFAŞ. Since we believe that exhibitions are among the most effective tools for developing our trade, organizing expos has always been one of our highest priorities in supporting the industry.
In addition to Fashion Prime, which we introduced to our city and the sector together with İZFAŞ, Fashion Tech, organized by İZFAŞ and İZGİ Fuarcılık, expanded this year and opened its doors to showcase the latest innovations in our industry. Throughout the exhibition, we witnessed the positive results of the extensive preparations that had been made.
Holding both expos simultaneously created significant momentum. Exhibitors showcased their latest technologies and collections, while domestic and international buyer delegations established valuable business connections. In the machinery and technology hall, we explored solutions that will facilitate the industry's digital transformation. Our exhibitors left the event highly satisfied."
Ertuğrul also emphasized that the industry achieved record export figures last year and expressed his strong belief that, by producing and exporting higher value-added products, the sector will continue to raise the bar together in the years ahead.
I Believe the Expos Will Make a Significant Contribution to İzmir's Economy
Abdullah Salkım, Chairman of the Board of the Fashion Textile Garment Industrialists and Businesspeople Association (MTKSD), stated that the expos are on track to achieve international exhibition status in the near future.
"Exhibitions are, in my opinion, the number one marketing strategy for sales, both in Türkiye and around the world. When combined with digitalisation, the results become even stronger. I believe both expos will make a significant contribution to İzmir's economy.
We observed that many of our international visitors did not travel solely for the exhibition; they also visited our city's commercial districts and began shopping there, creating an additional economic impact. Several exhibitors I spoke with said they were extremely satisfied and had already secured substantial export orders. This is very encouraging for all of us.
As an association, we proudly support these exhibitions for the benefit of our members, and we are pleased to see the positive outcomes of our efforts."
We Believe Even Greater Expos Will Be Achieved Together
Murat Özpehlivan, Chairman of the Board of the Garment Sub-Industry Association (KYSD), highlighted the long-standing support his association has provided to the exhibition.
"We have supported this exhibition since its earliest years. It has become a vibrant event that attracts both domestic and international visitors, particularly from the Aegean Region. Our members have participated from the very beginning, and we have established an excellent partnership.
Bringing together machinery, fabrics and accessories under one roof created a truly unique exhibition. It was a highly successful event where exhibitors and visitors alike were very satisfied, generating valuable business opportunities and commercial partnerships. Numerous companies from the garment sub-industry participated, including manufacturers of buttons, zippers and metal accessories. Organising such an exhibition without the support of the garment sub-industry would simply not be possible.
Compared to the previous year, the exhibition grew significantly. İzmir is a true exhibition city with an outstanding venue in Fuarizmir, and we firmly believe that even greater exhibitions will continue to be organized here. We hope the cooperation between İZFAŞ and KYSD will grow even stronger and continue well into the future."
Exhibitions, Fashion Shows and the Trend Area Attracted Great Interest
In addition to creating valuable business opportunities, the expos' Trend Area, exhibitions and fashion shows—showcasing the future of the textile and ready-to-wear industry—attracted significant attention from exhibitors and visitors alike. Fashion Prime Expo also hosted a series of talks featuring distinguished speakers and industry experts.
The Fabric, Accessories and Ready-to-Wear Trend Area was designed by internationally acclaimed artist Fırat Neziroğlu. A specially produced replica of the 700-year-old "Beledi Weaving Loom" and the traditional "Rope Twisting Wheel", originally exhibited at the Tire City Museum, was brought to the Trend Area with the support of the Municipality of Tire, where it became one of the exhibition's most popular attractions. Master artisans Gülnur Yaykal and Raife Baysal demonstrated the traditional techniques of Beledi weaving and rope making to visitors.
Other highlights included Ali Bozkan's "Sewing Machines Through the Ages" Exhibition, Fırat Karapınar's Carnival Costume and Accessory Design Exhibition, and the Denim Draping Exhibition by the Ege University School of Fashion and Design, all of which were on display throughout the event.
Visitors also had the opportunity to experience "Morphosis", the artwork created as part of Durak Tekstil's "From Yarn to Art" project, developed in collaboration with the Rope N Roll Art Workshop. The installation was produced using 48,926 metres of yarn in 97 different colours, transforming textile materials into an impressive work of contemporary art.
The expos were held under the auspices of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade, hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, and organized by İZFAŞ in cooperation with İzgi Fuarcılık, with the support of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Türkiye (KOSGEB), Aegean Exporters' Associations, İzmir Chamber of Commerce, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry, Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association (EGSD), Denizli Exporters' Associations, Buca Aegean Organized Industrial Zone (BEGOS), İzmir Atatürk Organized Industrial Zone (İAOSB), Fashion and Ready-to-Wear Federation, Mimar Kemalettin Fashion Center Association, Fashion Textile Garment Industrialists and Businesspeople Association (MTKSD), Garment Sub-Industry Association (KYSD) and the İzmir Fashion Designers Association.