Organized by the Osmanbey Textile Business People Association (OTİAD) with the consent of T.C. Ministry of Commerce and with the support of İHKİB presented in four different dialects, at the Fashionist Online Fashion and Ready-to-Wear Fair, it was reported that 2021 Spring / Summer season products of women's, men's, evening dresses and children's wear were on stage.
At the opening ceremony moderated by Oylum Talu, OTİAD President Rıdvan Kandağ, İTHİB President Ahmet Öksüz, İHKİB President Mustafa Gültepe, TİM President İsmail Gülle and T.C. Deputy Minister of Trade Rıza Tuna Turagay made their speech. Also breaking new grounds, Fashionist appealed to the visitors with 41 company fashion shows and 6 day interviews.
No Notification Has Been Disclosed Following the Fair
The fact that the organizers do not publicize any data about the success of the fair with the industry and the public after the online fair, while many association managers related to the sector, which has become a tradition regarding the fairs organized in the online platform, convey their good wishes and thankfulness in their opening speeches, it is a proof that the fairs organized in the virtual environment have not yet settled. In case the fairs organized online in virtual environment are successful, sector representatives waiting to share data on all visits and trade volume continue their distant approach to fairs in virtual environment.
"Our Design and Production Infrastructure is Osmanbey's Most Important Characteristic"
The first speech of the opening ceremony was made by OTİAD President Rıdvan Kandağ, the host of the fair. Kandağ, who first started his speech by evaluating the year 2020, pointed out that exports shrank by 20% during this period and shared his belief that 2021 will stand out with its opportunities. Adding that the pandemic has changed the course of the supply chain in global trade, Kandağ emphasized that thanks to their geographic proximity to EU countries and Middle Eastern countries, they reinforce the fact of providing fast service to suppliers. “As Osmanbeyli, our design and production infrastructure in every category is our most important characteristic that differentiates us” Kandağ reminded that they are making all of their preparations to turn advantages into opportunities by taking action again in the new normal. Kandağ said that holding the fair online this year will create an opportunity to access special collections with one click, and thanked all institutions, organizations and individuals who did not spare their support for the realization of the fair.
"Fashionist Online will play an important role in our exponentially increasing export figures"
The second speaker of the opening ceremony was ITHIB President Ahmet Öksüz. Stating that textile and ready-to-wear are two important sectors that complement each other and gain strength together, Öksüz said that both sectors provide the highest production in the manufacturing industry with a total production of 340 billion TL, provide the most employment in the country with more than one million and are the leader of exports with approximately 26 billion dollars and said, “If there were no textiles today, ready-to-wear could not be this strong. Again without ready-made garments, our textile sector cannot reach billion dollar worth of these integrated manufacturing facilities’’ said Öksüz while sharing his speech in the account of these data with the integrated power of textile sector said that our nation ranked sixth around the globe and second in EU in product supply. While informing us on the textile sector export value by 9.7 billion dollar in 2020 which has a target of 11 billion dollar in 2021 and said that with the significant breakthrough in exports they are continuing to have influence in the industry around the world and maintaining their ranks in word league and even strengthening it. In his speech, Mr.Öksüz talked about Turkey and its global positioning that entails brand and design-oriented export capability more to reach overall targets and to stay competitive in world markets. Öksüz said that after the pandemic in the new normal, collections that do not have design and sustainability curriculum may have the least chances to reach success. Ahmet Öksüz ends his speech by thanking all of the stakeholders whom have an input right at the beginning of their work relentlessly for the fair.
"Fashionist Online Platform will be a showcase for the fairs to be held by 2021"
İHKİB President Mustafa Gültepe took his side at the forum after the opening speech and intro. Gültepe who described Osmanbey as one of the most eye catching spots in Turkey and especially in İstanbul said that the city successfully represented the nation with its outstanding performance in design, production and works in several nations. While pointing out the several successes recorded in ready to wear industry despite lockdowns and all other challenging situations in 2020, Gültepe said that after a five year break once again amongst all the sectors it reached of 17.2 billon dollar and ranked at the top. Gültepe also stated that they see future more positively after June, especially with virtual fairs and physical works they will put forward in 2021 and expressed thier own belief that 2021 and beyond will be a very different year for the ready-to-wear industry. ‘’I hope this platform will set an example for our Turkish Ready-to-Wear Fair for the post-2021 period, which we will bring in to exhibits as well. We always support and will continue to support such efforts.’’
"Fashionist has come to a point to be a fair in the pursuit of"
TIM President İsmail Gülle was another guest who spoke at the opening ceremony. Stating that the fair, which was held online for the first time this year, will bring a business volume of 500 million dollars, Gülle stated that the newest designs that will be exhibited for the first time by the brands will meet with the participants at the fashion show. Pointing out that fashion shows and special collections will also take place at the fair. Gülle reminded that informing all of the participants about new fashion trends in the seminar programs. While stating that ready-to-wear exports increased by 13% and textile exports increased by 7% in the second half of 2020 despite leaving behind a difficult year, Gülle stated that both sectors have demonstrated that they are successfully pursuing their goals at an increased speed. "If our industry is able to increase its exports as global trade shrinks none of these achievements are a coincidence," said Gülle, adding that he congratulates everyone who has contributed wholeheartedly. Reminding that the stores are opened in an easily accessible concept according to the demands of the target customers, their products are designed according to the everyday life conditions of the consumer.
Gülle underlined that it is vital for the quality of the fairs to be well-analyzed and suitable to meet a specific demand. In his speech, Gülle also mentioned that the fair industry should serve as a secor that follows the rising trends, can form its target audience with data analysis and put forth strategies to achieve those targets, by adding that the Fashionist Online Fashion and Ready-to-Wear Fair is a good example in this sense.
"Osmanbey Is Our Pride"
Another guest who made his speech at the opening ceremony was T.C. Deputy Minister of Trade Rıza Tuna Turagay. While stating that in pursuit of all the developments regarding the fair since its initial stage, Turagay stated that a great effort was devoted to the realization of the fair and this was a source of pride. Turagay also talked about the clothing and confectionery as one of the forerunners in the export of nation, and said that figures are a clear tool highlighting their works since the establishment of OTİAD. Reminding that the challenges of 2020 continued at the beginning of this year, Turagay stated that despite this, their performance exceeding the targets in ready-to-wear and apparel exports. Congratulating the 71 companies that participated in the fair, Turagay wished to meet in the next fair in a physical environment and thanked everyone who contributed.
