Organised by İTKİB Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB), the Texhibition trade fair featured more than 500 exhibitors across five halls covering 42,850 sq m.
The event attracted 19,325 visitors, including 5,565 international attendees from more than 95 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and North America.
Despite ongoing global market challenges, the decline in international visitor numbers compared with previous editions remained limited to around 5%, according to the organisers.
Held in Istanbul, the event provided a platform for buyers, designers and manufacturers to meet suppliers, discuss sourcing strategies and exchange ideas on supply chain resilience at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.
Fatih Bilici, vice-president of İTHİB and chairman of the Texhibition Fair Committee, said: “Texhibition Istanbul demonstrates year after year how strong and flexible the Turkish textile industry is. Especially in times of global uncertainty, international brands are looking for reliable partners with fast supply chains and high quality – and this is where Türkiye offers significant advantages. The fair has become an important meeting point where markets, ideas and partnerships come together.”
Türkiye remains one of the world’s key textile producers, with an annual production value of around $78bn, including about $45bn in textiles and $33bn in apparel.
Industry representatives at the event pointed to the country’s integrated production structure as a competitive advantage. From cotton and wool to yarns, fabrics, finishing processes, logistics and packaging, much of the textile value chain is available within the country.
The proximity to European markets also enables relatively fast transport and shorter delivery times, factors increasingly valued by brands seeking more agile supply chains.
Exhibitors at the event also showcased developments in sustainable production technologies, resource efficiency and circular economy solutions, including innovations aimed at reducing water and energy consumption.
Among the brands and buyers represented were Hugo Boss, Puma, Nike, Coach, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler.
Industry leaders including ISKO and Kipaş also took part in the Blue Black Denim area, which focused on developments in denim materials, sustainable washing technologies and new dyeing techniques.
The event also featured an Innovation Hub presenting material developments addressing sustainability and performance. Highlights included Colourself Cotton, which aims to reduce water and energy consumption during dyeing, and biodegradable pleated textiles designed to be fully compostable.
Other areas of the exhibition included the ReValue Stock Hub, which focused on surplus fabrics and circular sourcing opportunities, and curated trend areas showcasing new fabric developments, colours and textures for future collections.
Alongside the exhibition, the event programme included seminars and panel discussions covering topics such as digital supply chains, artificial intelligence in textile production and sustainable materials.
Trend forecasting company WGSN also delivered sessions on upcoming fabric and design trends.
Ahmet Öksüz, president of İTHİB, commented: “Our goal was to create an international brand where global trends are shaped and the perception of quality in Turkish textiles is strengthened. Today, Texhibition has gone beyond being merely a trade platform and has become an important showcase reflecting the vision and shared ambitions of our industry; it has also evolved into a fair where trends are set and closely followed by the sector. By strengthening the brand value of the Turkish textile industry, Texhibition also serves as a strong reference point for our region.”
