Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association's Purchasing Strategies and Expectations Panel 2014, was held under the sponsorship of Kimtex.
While the Turkish garment sector is ready to close 2013 with over 17 billion dollars of exports, Turkey and the world's managers of leading buying groups, challenging competitive environment in the apparel sector shared their purchasing strategies which will move to larger export numbers. Also creations produced by Kimtex were introduced to visitors with a mini fashion show.
At the panel, apparel companies such as Marks&Sprencer, Li & Fung, LCW, Kotton, Cherryfield, Apperal Lab and Perseus were present and the sector overview of purchasing offices were discussed, TGSD President Cem Negrin, said that the economic recovery that began in the European Union will increase the garment exports to 1 billion dollars more in 2014. Despite this year Turkey's export performance remained below expectations, Negrin stated that they are prepared to close 2013 with 17,3 billion dollars of exports and that the apparel sector is a locomotive in Turkey's exports.
Negrin, drew attention to European Union's retail spending and stated that the index which was 100 in 2007, increased to 107,63 at the end of September 2013 and that it was a very positive sign for Turkey. Negrin stated that they have a still long way to go with Europe which survived the crisis, also underlined that removing or reducing the protection measures in yarn and fabric which has been ongoing for more than two years, is a very important development for the sector. In this way, producers will experience a significant improvement and increase their competitiveness and product quality, stated Negrin.
Turkish textile is like a tree
Panel sponsor Kimtex's CEO Tanzer Gözek, simulated the Turkish textile which have achieved a lot of things in the field of production, quality and design to a tree. Gözek saying the root of the tree is the yarn, the body is the fabric, leaves are apparel and its fruits are the brands, also emphasized brands in the apparel area should increase.Stating they aim to create new production bases of the world brands in the Mediterranean basin, also said Turkish apparel sector should create the future planning according to this. Gözek said Turkey should focus on the questin "Where should we be in 10 years, 20 years?", also said "We should spend all our energy to answer this question".
Factors that highlights Turkey in textile
As panelist, Marks&Spencer Regional Director Sylvie Dayi, LCW Fabric Purchasing Manager Şenol Dallı, Cherryfield Design and Business Development Manager Pınar Cebeci, Li&Fung Vice President Fatya Mamçu, Perseus General Manager Bülent Alkanlı, Apparel Lab Managamenet Partner Arzu Ordoubadi and Koton Supply Manager Akın Şimşek joined.
Marks&Spencer Regional Director Sylvie Dayi as one of the panelists, said they have great confidence in Turkey. Dayi stating that they still see great potential in the region, said they will continue the purchase support that they give to retail. "Having the settled quality standards formed in the apparel area, ,s the most powerful factor that enable us to come to Turkey. With the investment the textile industry made in design, the speed and flexibilty are the most important factors that will take Turkey one step ahead."
Cherryfield Design and Business Development Manager Pınar Cebeci said Turkey is going to be indispensable for the textile sector. Cebeci eemphasized that the current great distress is "uncertainty and to not have expectations", also said there are no longer annual orders that used to come in previous years and according to this a position should be taken.
Our consumption will change
Perseus General Manager Bülent Alkanlı, in the statement that he gave to our magazine, that the new trend will be shopping over the internet. Alkanlı said currently in Turkey and around the world many internet sites are operating in this field, even though the percent of people shopping from stores looks like %90, the change of business an life conditions made people buy from the internet rather than shops. Alkanlı stated that shopping predictions for 2020 are one-third from the store, one-third from the internet, and the rest one-third will purchase from the internet and recieve from the store, also added people's shopping expectations will switch increasingly to the digital are but visiting stores will continue. Alkanlı says, in the future, stores will turn into places like museums and that internet will change our shopping habits.
Ultra Textile Export Manager Görgi Özoğuz, stated that they moved all of their textile related investments to Turkey and to take advantage of the incentive law they want to move their investments to 6th or 5th area. Also said to benefit from incentives they have been told to purchase new machinery to the area.
Turkey is very rich in terms of diversity
Koton Supply Manager Akın Şimşek, said to our magazine that, they are making a major leap in the field of merchandising and that now they are making feasibility studies to make new investments in Turkey in the field of weaving. Şimşek said the biggest advantage of Turkey in textile is from cotton to staples all materials exists, also added Koton which had a 42 percent of growth in 2013, determines the same growth target for 2014. Şimşek stated, to achieve this goal in terms of purchase and production, the most important determinant is the appreciation of the customers and thanks to this, diversity comes to the fore. Şimşek stated in apparel, Turkey is in a very important place in terms of the diversity adding that Far East doesn't have this diversity.
Because Koton moves according to reactions from customers, Şimşek explained that's why they added new categories such as denim, kids and underwear, emphasized that especially in Eastern Anatolia the investments need to increase in underwear and woven field.Coface Turkey General Manager Belkıs Alpergun said to Tekstil Dünyası Magazine, the domestic investors abroad must consider socio-political indicators that may cause economic risks while they are making their decisions. "We must not forget that, to have high national income per capita, does not reduce the fragility of sustainability. When we look at Turkey, in recent years national income per capita is rising, inflation is falling. When we look from this angle, Turkey's socio-economic pressure level is medium. So, in developing countries, Turkey is the most stable country in its geography. In short, Turkey has been attracting in
