İpekiş Mensucat Turk A.S. which is almost coeval with Republic of Turkey was founded with the directive of Atatürk, only two years after the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey for the purpose of usage of sericulture and cocoon production. Atatürk himself laid the foundation of Ipekis factory on Oct 1st, 1925 which is known to be the first industrial premise of the new Republic and was also one of the first exporters in the history of Republic of Turkey.
Firm which was incorporated by Tarman Group in 1991 continues its marketing and sales activities uninterrupted in the woolen industry production. Wiith the new investments; İpekiş is manufacturing at its brand-new factory which has a 22.000 squaremeters covered area, which its annual production stands at 2.5 million meters, 90% of sales is made of pure wool, while the remaining 10% is made of natural fiber.İpekiş which continues its production by becoming the vision of a global brand, "respecting people and the environment" without compromising, by following the latest technology and latest trends, with the flexible production understanding, with customer, quality, trend and design-oriented products, İpekiş Mensucat Türk A.Ş. General Manager Aşkın Kandil, answered Tekstil Dünyası Publishing Group's questions.
We grew in 2013
Aşkın Kandil saying 2013 was a year which İpekiş got its fruits from investing in the recent years, also stating that in 2013 İpekiş focused both on cool wool and four seasons wearable fashion products produced from the mixture of %100 Australia merino wool and other natural fibers (cashmere, silk, linen, bamboo, cotton) as well as functional products. Kandil stated they have turned the cooperation withTurkish and Italian apparel brands that they have included in previous years into business trade as of 2013, also sayin they have achieved 15 percent growth in 2013 compared to 2012.
Kandil said, for 2014, by increasing the weaving and dyeing capacity both production and sales activities will continue their similar growth, also added that they have been working with high fashion brands for many years that are İpekiş İtalia's customers such as Versace, Armani, Moschino and D&G. "The reason why the Italian brands embraced İpekiş rapidly is no doubt our high quality sustainable level, customer-specific design, boutique production and implementing our fast servic principles succesfully" saying Kandil, "With this brand, our trade begins when preparing its collections. Together with our team of Turkish and Italian designers, the process which begins by reviewing the collection of İpekiş, sample production, continues with fabric orders on the basis of collection provision for number of suits with sales forecasts. For example, the 100 percent wool suits in Versace's last three collection was 80 percent İpekiş."
40 Percent of Production is Exported
Kandil stated that, 40 percent of the current production of İpekiş is exported directly to United States, Russia, Italy, France, England and Iran, "The other 40 percent of the brands, meets as suits with foreign customers through the brands that we suppy fabric. On the other hand, we are consolidating our presence in the international arena with Lane Bugella brand which is in Italy, the heart of the fashion world. İpekiş is a brand which is positioned with the leaders of woolen fabrics, that competes with world-class luxury brands. The technology we use, is the the future on fabric production. Despite the inevitable cost of using cashmere, wool and silk in our products, it is more economical than the same segment woolen fabric brands. Therefore, European brands prefer to fulfill their luxury product needs with more affordable price from İpekiş."
Kandil, speaking about the annual production capacity of İpekiş, "According to our market researchs, the annual production of suiting wool fabric is 30 million meters and an estimated 5 million meters is 100 percent wool. İpekiş's annually fabric production is 2.2 million meters. The two million meters of it is hundred percent wool fabrics. With this feature, it would be better to evaluate in one hundred percent wool suiting fabric manufacturers class in Italy. By using these figures, we can say in 100 percent wool, with 40 percent share, İpekiş is the largest manufacturer in Turkey."
Kandil said in weaving-weaving preperation and dyeing machines they use German, in finishing machines with its success accepted Italian technologies, also stated that with Microsoft Axapta Dynamics ERP program they use activities such as purchasing, inventory management, production, P & D, quality management, planning, sales, customer relations, human resources and cost management as a management tool with in integrity.Kandil saying that the most important feature of İpekiş products is they have developed many products according to the needs of urban consumers and business life technological superiority, they have transferred 5 percent of their budget on R & D and P & G and that they have a team of 14 employee to work on this issue.
Kandil expressed that İpekiş's smart fabric collection includes, Pure Woolstretch that provides maximum mobility and durability, water and stain repellent Bionic Finish, antibacterial Silverplus, help to lose weight Slimming, emitting a pleasant smell all day with scented perfume Bioperfume, pollen driving Zeropolen, Cooldark in dark colors which keeps you cool and reduce the effect of UV despite the scorching sun and ZeroStress fabrics that reduce stress and that İpekiş is the company which successfully applied these technologies first time in Turkey.
Coolwool Campaign Member İpekiş
Kandil saying that in İpekiş, almost the entire production is 100 percent wool suiting fabrics which does not exceed 180 grams per square meter, with this distinctive feature İpekiş represented Turkey with a success by being in Coolwool Campaign which only Woolmarks's 22 members are included worldwide.
In the new era, the trends without losing elegance, high comfort and mobility, clothes that feel like own skin, along with functional properties, carrying one hundred percent wool and wool-cashmere fabrics will be shaped as more colorful expresses Kandil, said about for the new collection they prepared, "Our 2015 Spring / Summer collection was inspired by architecture and we gave place to the vibrant colors of nature. At the collection we used natural fibers such as wool, cotton, linen, silk, bamboo with different colors. Color options included calm and gentle colors such as pastel, powder tones, beige, salmon, lilac, pink as well as gray, ice blue, olive and mint hues. Oil, turquoise, parliament, indigo and cinnamon colors with lime green, purple, dark blue and dark brown are olse other highlighted hues. At the collection, by using different weaves we emphasized the reflection of light. We used combination of mathematics and art in jacket and suits; plaids, shaded transitions, minimalist patterns and textures gives the appearance of sandy. In suit products there are shaded and recessed lines. In the collection we kept the naturality with touches. We have given slippery, smooth and non-glossy natural effects to the products with cool finish.”
First Turkish Company To Attend Milano Unica
Finally, Kandil stating that they were the first Turkish Company to attend Milano Unica where Turkish companies are not accepted which was held between 11-13 February, with İpekiş İtalia's new brand Lane Bugella and immediately after that they attended to Premiére Vision exhibition which was held between 18-20 February in Paris and in these two exhibitions they showcased their 2015 Spring-Summer collection for the first time. In two exhibitions as in continuation of each other, Kandil stated that they met manufacturers, exporters and retailers from around the world, "Our participation in Milano Unica exhibition was in 2014. However, the process goes back to six years ago. In 2008 we began to work to form a business in Italy, in 2009 we established İpekiş İtalia and taking an important step in the name of branding which its importance is always epmhasized, we have registered the brand Lane Bugella in many countries of the world including Turkey” says Kandil, "Finally, we applied the exhibition with our Lane Bugella brand. I'd want to say that, all these efforts are not enough alone, the final decision about participation was given through the creative features and effects of our collection."
