Texworld to host fair in Istanbul in 2014

By

Matthieu Guinebault

Published
Dec 5, 2013

As reported in FashionMag in September, the Parisian textile fair owned by Messe Frankfurt is getting a Turkish edition. The first Texworld Istanbul has been announced for November 2014 in the Lütfi Kırdar International Convention & Exhibition Center.

Upcoming editions of the show intend to be international, offering a range from cotton to linen, including wool, silk and embroidery, but also hi-tech products, knitwear, prints and accessories. Messe Frankfurt is already mentioning a focus on Asian manufacturers, but the exhibitor list will include many countries. The new fair wants to attract industry professionals from the Mediterranean region in Europe but also the Middle East, Central Asia and Russia. Turkey's role in the industry, its location and good flight connections helped attract Messe Frankfurt.

"The launch of Texworld Istanbul marks a very exciting point in the development of Messe Frankfurt in Turkey," said Detlef Braun, member of Frankfurt Messe's Board of Management. "In the last ten years, our company has led the path for many Turkish textile professionals to a variety of international markets by offering high-quality fairs all across the globe. Now we are bringing the international fashion fabrics manufacturing base to Turkey."

This new show follows the creation of a first satellite edition of Texworld held twice a year in New York. But the launch of a Turkish event especially marks Texworld's successful modernization the past few seasons. "The show had to face prejudices against it, like its cold look or its strong Chinese offer," said Michael Sherpe, president of Messe Frankfurt France, in an interview with FashionMag in September. "All the work conducted by the artistic directors for several seasons has resulted in the show now having its own identity and a real community. To the point that for the first time, Messe Frankfurt will develop a series of fairs carrying a single brand name." (The huge German exhibition company is basically pursuing a strategy of trade fairs whose names can be easily identified and exported. Ed.)

Some 10.3% of Turkish exports come from its textile industry. Turkey is the world's sixteenth largest economy and was the third largest apparel supplier to the EU between January and August 2013 (5.7 billion euros, up 2%) and the second largest textiles supplier (2.6 billion euros, up 10%). The country is also the eighth biggest clothing customer of the EU and the second largest textile customer after the United States (figures IFM).