Taking part in Intertextile Shanghai Apparel fair, Karsu Tekstil has acquired many achievements since the start of its sectoral journey in 1970s. Starting to manufacture cotton in Kayseri in 1973, the firm expanded its product segment with 6 different yarn manufacturing technologies and special fibers. As one of the leading textile firms traded in the Istanbul Stock Exchange, Karsu Tekstil also carries out special production for its clients.
We visited the stand of the firm in Intertextile Shanghai Apparel fair and Karsu Tekstil Marketing and Sales Director Ferda Akkan informed us about their activities. Stating that they offer more than 1000 different quality products with yarn numbers, mixtures and fiber types, Akkan also expressed that they manage to maintain their competitive power thanks to their innovative viewpoint. Reminding that Karsu Tekstil is the firm to produce Lenzing Modal® and Tencel® yarns in Turkey, Akkan also stated that they are a pioneer firm in terms of regenerated cellulose yarn processing which attracts a great attention.
We believed in the future of Air-Jet (Vorteks) technology
Stating that their annual yarn production capacity is 14.000 tons, Akkan also added that they prefer not basic ones but value added special yarns in their product range. Akkan expressed that: “As Karsu brand, we appeal to many segments from inner and outer wear to home textile, sportswear to technical usage areas with our knitted and woven yarn types. Besides, we also conduct finished fabric production in especially technical products.
Explaining that they launched the production of Karvis® yarns which result less pilling with Murata Vorteks yarn investment in 2003, Akkan continued as such: “We are one of the first firms to invest in Vorteks and we made considerable contributions to the introduction and airjet technology and creation of its market. In other words, our first idea about Karvis® yarns was to sell in the Turkish market but they did not draw a sufficient amount of interest. Thus, we focused on promoting them in the foreign markets with the brand of “Karvis®”. No matter how much we talk about innovation, it is not so easy to change the habits and persuade firms for innovations. However, we always believed in the future of Vorteks technology, expanded with export and we still make investment in airjet. I can say that Inditex Group which includes such firms as Zara, Massimo Dutti became the first firm to use our Karvis® yarn products. With the demand of this and similar brands, there has been an intense demand in the internal market. As sector, we have to develop innovative products which create its own clients to remain competitive.”.
There is not much chance in terms of Basic Production
“In addition to the internal market demands, we have to take the appropriate products to the target country for export” said Akkan and explained that there is no chance of competition with basic products in such countries as China, India and Bangladesh. Stating that they, therefore, focused on making high value added production and developing products, Akkan continued by saying: “As firm, we produce more than 1000 qualities. We can categorise our products under three basic groups as Fashionable, Functional and Technical. We have a great variety of products and mixtures to offer to the demands and market and we can be flexible. For years, we have focused on a high value added production at a strong position.”.
Akkan stated that China should not be evaluated as importer country since it makes cheap production and alleged that there are 250 million rich people in this country and due to luxurious consumption habits and quality product demands of these people, a significant market area has been created. In particular, Akkan expressed that final product manufacturers benefit from this section in terms of sales and said: “There is an export potential for firms producing intermediate products, like us.”
Promotion Needs Participation in Fairs
Explaining that firms could exhibit their products in the fairs and exhibitons, Akkan expressed that: “We, thus, take part in the fairs conforming to our target markets. For instance, we always show up in Expofil Fair in Paris. For a first fair participation in China, we preferred Intertextile Shanghai fair. In general terms, it is an established fair attracting an intensive amount of international visitors. As a consequence, there was a special interest in our stand. We hosted our guests from such countries as South Africa, India and Finland. We also had guests from Turkey. In parallel to the improving life standard in China, an increase is observed in the quality of demanded products and this situation attracts attention of the whole world to this region.”.
