Textile sub-industry, gaining importance in terms of enhancing Turkey’s position in the world’s textile and contributing to the production potential, is getting more and more important both with its quality and its added value. Konfeksyion Yan Sanayicileri Derneği-KYSD (Garment Sun-Industry Association) established by the textile sub-industry manufacturers in 1995 is growing each year. The productions of the association’s members and their services are among those internationally wanted products.
Chairman of Executive Board of Şimşek Ege Etiket and Garment Sub-Industry Association which successfully carries out to show the power of Turkish Garment Sub-Industry in international platforms Osman Ege answered our Edition Group’s questions. Stating that all the sub-industry products used in the ready-to-wear productions are quite important in terms of its functional and aesthetic characters, Osman Ege: “The importance of a zip or a button, or buckram, shoulder pad, narrow weaving, or the importance of label in selling and advertising are much higher than that of total financial value of the product. The unqualified or misuse of these products may cause them look like totally unqualified or defective products. Moreover, the quality and innovations can be enabled with the accessory products.”
The Contribution of Sub-Industry Products is High
Ege, stating that the sub-industry products’ contribution to selling and exporting is much higher than that of its financial strength, said that the share of textile sub-industry is continuously increasing in Turkey where the size of textile sector is said to be 50 billion dollar. Stating that the Turkish garment sub-industry can compete with the whole world, Ege:“Our manufacturers can domestically supply all their sub-industry needs. Moreover, our sector is in such a level to address all those countries in the nearby geography with ready-to-wear sectors.” He also added that they need to improve themselves in terms of such issues as marketing promotion, new design and Pr&De.
Stating that the fact that garment sub-industry is supplied by the local industry is important for both creating more added value and also textile and ready-to- wear industry, Ege: “Those producing for Western Europe or America, or our major institutional ready-to-wear brands do not already use that unhealthy, unqualified far east sub-industry products. Because, in accordance with the agreements they are party to, or the rules they are responsible for, they prefer either the local qualified products or major international sub-industry suppliers. Unfortunately, those cheap and bad-quality products are used in the cheap products manufactured in the internal market or the countries which do not give the necessary sensitivity to the issue. We expect the government to take the necessary measures to prevent the import of these bad-quality and unhealthy sub-industry products.”
A Troublesome Year-2014
In his statement that the year 2014 was quite positive for Turkey’s sub-industry sector, Ege added however that 2014 ended with a decrease for those members working particularly for the domestic market, Russian and Arab markets. Ege in his words: “We experienced a bad year in terms of profitability and investment. Apart from the investments improving the effectiveness, there had been almost no investment for capacity increase. We do not expect 2015 to be a better year because of neighbor countries, slowness in Europe and the election year in the domestic market. However, it seems that the problems in Far East and appreciation of the dollar may result in more orders from Turkey and the Mediterranean. I hope, even if it is not this year, that medium term business will grow. In the future textile and all the related sectors will be growing and getting more shares from the world trade. We need to focus on more alternative markets and to give importance to the Pr&De. Further, corporateness and effectiveness without losing the flexibility have a vital role for all the manufacturing sectors.”
Government Should Support the Sector
Ege, stating that they cannot see any encouraging measure apart from the additional taxes brought to some sub-industry products, emphasized that the manufacturers should be supported in terms of such costs as energy, labor, tax and investment, and he added that by this way the sector can reach to a state to compete in an international level. Ege continued his words as: “Unfortunately the total rate of manufacturing industry is decreasing. Still, the one that can resist in such a case and provide sustainable growth is that sectors- textile, garment and its sub-industry. We-as KYSD- continue our work on this issue.”
Ege, stating that they represent KYSD sub-industry sector in every platform, said: Our members in charge of related committees and executive boards in ISO,ITO, exporters’ associations, federations, etc. become part to any kind of issue related to our association. 17 firms made up of our members in the leadership of İSO committee carry out an Pr&De Project. It organizes fairs with other associations or fair companies for the benefit of our sector, support related sectors and provide participation advantage for our members. Moreover, it also organizes trade committees and visits both in the country and abroad.”
We Need Qualified Labor Force
Ege in his words on qualified labor force -one of the biggest problems of textile sector: “To find qualified labor force is a problem for our sector too. We reported our needs related to this issue to the İskur (Turkish Employment Agency) and also demanded from them to organize trainings in accordance with the needs. From time to time we also go to high schools, colleges and universities related to textile and garment and give seminars over there. In cooperation with our federation, we try to provide labor force to the sector by supporting the protocols with many different education institutions.”
Ege, saying that they also support Premier Vision İstanbul, notifies: “As an association, we support this fair and try to make our members to participate more in the organization.”
