The representatives of wedding dress sector which showed an attack at the export and entered a period of rapid growth and change, met in İzmir. In a meeting organized by the Aegean Exporters' Association, problems of the wedding dress and evening gowns sector and solutions of these problems were evaluated by sector representatives.
Aegean Clothing and Apparel Exporters' Association President Emre Kızılgüneşler who spoke at the meeting, said that one of the sector's biggest problem is not being able to compete on the world market. Kızılgüneşler, expressing that they are preparing an action plan for the sector to get rid of the "crisis" in Turkey, "1150 companie in İzmir visited one by one, the sector's problems have been identified and overseas examples were analyzed. At the end of a 7 month study, a strategy was developed." Kızılgüneşler who defends that the sector in İzmir become addicted to İstanbul especially on the supply of raw materials, "To increase our competitiveness and the added value with Istanbul and foreign markets, we have to integrate wedding dress and evening gowns sector with other services of marriage. We have to move from wholesale to retailing” said. Kızılgüneşler stating that, wedding dress and evening gown sector in Turkey, another problem experienced in creating the new design, "By establishing a fashion academy in İzmir, we would like to close the gap experienced in designers and technical staff. Also by starting merchandising vocational school program, we intend to develop retailing."
Aegean Clothing Manufacturers' Association President Mukadder Özden noting that, IF Wedding Fashion Wedding Dress and Evening Gown Exhibition is a major contributor to the development of the sector, "Only this exhibition, has created an economy of 300 million dollars this year. In the coming years there will be more participation. The more international participation to the exhibition, the more design range is expanding" said.
Turkey Comes First To Mind When Wedding Dress Is Mentioned
Wedding dress sector representatives from boutique shops began to set up factories for mass production in order to meet overseas demands, also said that Turkey is one of the countries that first comes to mind when "Wedding Dress" is mentioned. Wedding dress producers said that wedding dresses has high added value, also makes "the cost of a wedding dress is equivalent of 300 t-shirts" assessment. The sector which made about 250 million dollars export last year, this year predicts over 25 percent growth. Wedding dress producers say that, wedding dress tourism to Turkey has started, this makes significant increase in market sales also explains that the sector has made a great progress in branding. The sector which focuses on increasing exports, by duplicating exhibition organizations, also focuses on advertising and promotion.
