While the preparations for the Premiere Vision fair are in process which will be held in Paris by the beginning of July, which is considered amongst the most important textile fairs in the world, Turkish textile manufacturers voiced their concerns to the fair management about the ‘discrimination’ which they experienced. Fair exhibitor companies begin posting statements as such, “As Turkish textile companies, we all refuse to participate in the fair due to the geographical discrimination enforced by the Paris Premiere Vision fair” on their social media accounts with the slogan, “Fashion without borders.”
The Decision was taken with the Italian Pressure
The fair management decided to schedule the fair by geography this year, which used to be classified by the product categories every year. In the decision, the main reasons were stated as the increase in the shifting orders from Europe to Turkey recently and the Italy’s incapability to regain its former strength after the pandemic since it was further underlined that the decision was made by the Italian pressure on the fair management. After the cancellation of fair exhibits of Turkish companies officially in writing as well due to the issues coming to the agenda before the fair which set out to run in the first week of July, it was said that the fair management has already begun its negotiations with the umbrella organizations of the Turkish textile industry and it was stated that the efforts to persuade the officials to exhibit at the fair are continuing.
Turkish Textile Manufacturer Disapproved PV's Decisions
According to the statements of the textile manufacturers which published in the Economy Newspaper: In Premiere Vision, which is regarded as one of the most important textile fairs in the world, it was specified that the discrimination will not be participated by them in the form of "European Union Nations’’ and ‘‘others’’ and it was further underlined that the decision for Turkey to exhibit around separate halls with China, Korea, India, Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt would be short-sighted. In the survey which was posted to the exhibitor companies by the umbrella organization of the industry, it was stated that two options were presented as "I will not exhibit at the fair if not reaching majority" and "I will participate" and the results revealed that most of the textile companies were made a decision on not exhibiting.
"Not Participating Does Fail"
After the reactions shown and decisions taken for not exhibiting, the companies pointed out the difficulties in their possible future exhibits in the following period. The officials which said that it would be difficult to take a decision for all about not exhibiting at the fair with the urgency reminded about the companies with overseas partners since similar challenges have reported in the past editions every year, “When you also look at the fairs in Germany, we encounter similar process. We cannot find a solution by not participating. We have to show our reaction inside.’’
BTSO Disregarded Critics
The Premiere Vision Paris fair has been held twice a year since 1973. Last year, 212 companies from Turkey exhibited at the fair. Bursa was represented with 57 companies at the fair. Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) brings together Bursa companies with fairs within the scope of the Global Fair Agency Project. BTSO Officials do not follow any change in visitor organization which they conducted for the fair as the event has seen a strong withdrawal. BTSO stated that there has been no change regarding the delegation visit to the fair this year, and it was said that no decision has been taken by the management in this regard.
