Istanbul Apparel Exporters' Association (İHKİB) vice president Mustafa Paşahan told the audience at the Sheraton Grand hotel on London's Park Lane that they had gathered to "further strengthen the commercial and creative ties between Türkiye and the UK."
He notes that in recent years, the UK has become one of the most trusted production hubs in the global fashion industry, thanks to its sustainable manufacturing, strong design capability and agility in fast delivery.
"Today, Turkish apparel exporters proudly produce for many of the leading brands in the UK and across Europe," he shares.
He also points out that during the first nine months of 2025, Türkiye's total exports to the UK reached $10.2bn, of which $1.5bn came from ready-to-wear apparel exports.
However, he adds: "We firmly believe that the potential between our two countries goes far beyond these figures."
That is precisely why Paşahan says İHKİB organised a B2B meeting programme in the UK, which brought together Turkish womenswear, menswear, childrenwear and hosiery manufacturers with British buying groups.
He states: "I sincerely believe that the meetings held today will open the door to long-term and value-added collaborations between our industries."
The event was also used to launch the IFCO - the Istanbul Fashion Connection Apparel and Fashion Fair.
Paşahan shares: "In a short time, IFCO has become one of Europe's largest apparel and fashion fairs, securing its place on the international fashion trade fair calendar.
"Through IFCO, we have welcomed over 200,000 professional visitors from nearly 100 countries to Istanbul across eight editions.
"Today we take great pride in witnessing the continued growth of IFCO - a global platform where creativity meets sustainability and where Türkiye's dynamic fashion industry showcases its strength and innovation to the world."
