The İHKİB Innovative Idea Marathon Competition, organized by the Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Apparel Exporters' Association in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, has ended. 415 students from 54 Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools in Istanbul, studying in fields such as "Textile Technologies, Marketing, Retail, Graphic Design, Handicrafts", especially in the field of Fashion Design Technologies, participated in the competition. The competition, which consists of 3 stages, the product development sections, which include the steps of product and service and commercialization of the business idea according to its fundamentals, was held in a completely digital environment. Eighteen teams and 90 students competed fiercely in the final of the competition, in which 83 teams, consisting of groups of five, participated.
Non-flammable, stain-resistant fabric: AURA project wins
In the final competition marked by female students, Selçuk Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School has the second place with the apron project “AURA”, which does not burn, sweat and does not stain, developed for chefs and cooks in the food and beverage sector of Nişantaşı Rüştü Uzel Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. Kartal Sabiha Gökçen Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School achieved the third place with the "MODROP" project, which is used to combine the clothes of people in accordance with the climate conditions, color and fabric characteristics, with the swimsuit project "FIBERMAY", which they designed by using the capok fiber. In the final, the first team won 25,000 TL, the second team 20,000 TL, and the third team 15,000 TL in money prize.
Haydar Akın Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School won the "Best Teamwork" award of 5.000 TL with the button project "DÜBORTEKS" developed from olive seed for a greener production and the virtual style consultancy application "SEASD" project developed by İHKİB Kağıthane Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. They were deemed worthy. Üsküdar İMKB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School received the Jury Special Prize with a prize of 7.500 TL with the "SHOE CLEAN DRY CLEANING" project, which provides cleaning, care and hygiene for shoes. The winning teams, who received the special jury award and the best teamwork award, were also awarded the IMA Education Award and the LCW Academy Education Award.
Unsinkable Swimwear Preventing Drowning, Workwear Preventing Electric Shock
In the competition where beautiful, innovative and applicable ideas competed, T-shirt that informs about the rise of the child's fever, swimwear that prevents drowning, clothes that prevent mountaineers, mentally disabled people and children from getting lost, work wear protecting workers from electric shocks, unimpeded shopping practice for the visually impaired, weather conditions and daily schedule. Accordingly, the techniques to combine clothes in wardrobes were among the projects that will shape the future of the industry.
Three Magic Words "Design, Sustainability, Innovation"
In the opening speech of İHKİB President Mustafa Gültepe at the award ceremony: “The Innovative Idea Marathon reminded us of a truth once again. We should strengthen industry-school cooperation more in vocational education. We should transfer the knowledge and experience of the private sector to young people at school age. Moreover, we should give our young people the opportunity and encourage them. We now live in a digital world. The digital universe offers great opportunities for all sectors. Let's face it, young people know the codes of that digital universe much better than we do. Besides digitization, there are three more magic words for our fashion industry. One is 'design', the other is 'sustainability', that is sustainable production. Another is entrepreneurship and innovation. We must focus on these areas in order to maintain our global competitiveness and increase our value-added exports. While strengthening our technological infrastructure, we should also benefit from the creative ideas of our young people. I believe that the Innovative Idea Marathon will be the meeting point of our talented young people with the industry. I congratulate all our young people who participated in the competition. I think everyone participating in this marathon is the champion. “
Our industry has exported 28 Billion 500 Million Dollars
In his speech, Minister of Commerce Ruhsar Pekcan stated that the textile industry had exported 28 billion 500 million dollars last year and said, “At the point we have reached today, we are developing towards an organizational structure that is based on competition based on quality, technology, R&D, innovation, design and branded product exports rather than price-based competition. . As the Ministry of Trade, we are aware of how valuable and decisive the studies in the field of education are for the future of our country. We continue our work within the framework of the education cooperation protocol on improving foreign trade, which we signed with the Ministry of National Education in 2019. For each academic year, we continue to provide significant support to our vocational high schools, with the approval of our ministry, to be covered from the budget of the Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Apparel Exporters Union. Very important activities are carried out such as achievement based and demand based scholarship for students, machinery and equipment support, and further trainings given to teachers and students at the Istanbul Fashion Academy, and support for the placement of graduates.’’
Pekcan said, “Dear young people, the goals of our country are enormous. We will take our place among the most developed countries in the world by working and producing more and more and with the best. We are taking firm steps towards this goal. We will reach to new heights in textile and apparel fashion with the added successes. We place our trust on you."
MEB Vocational and Technical Education General Manager Prof.Dr. Kemal Varın Numanoğlu stating that the Innovative Idea Marathon Competition made significant contributions to the professional development of our students in the fields of entrepreneurship, serves as a tool to form business idea, and transform these into a product, and the design and trademark registration of said products. Our young people who receive vocational and technical education actually turn their dreams into reality by transforming their knowledge into skills and products. As a result, our young people who produce and work will add great value to the future of our country. "
Brighter Future, Rising Turkey With Exports
In his speech, TİM President İsmail Gülle said to the young people: “As the representatives of the export family, we will always continue to support you in every success and failure. We believe that we have come a long way in the development of this ecosystem with the intensive work we have carried out in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. We have a long way to go, but I believe that for this cause, we will work harder and build innovative Turkey altogether. We will achieve our purpose with our younger generations who are taken innovative approach their works to bring all of our efforts for a brighter future of our nation with the rising exports.’’
