“With its 10th edition, Texhibition has further strengthened its position as an international sourcing platform", concludes Ahmet Şişman, President of Texhibition Istanbul. "Our objective is not simply to grow in size, but to bring together the right companies and the right decision-makers. We therefore place great emphasis on a carefully selected exhibitor portfolio and a targeted international buyer profile. Nearly 2,500 bilateral meetings involving more than 300 Turkish companies demonstrate the level of concrete business generated at the fair. At the same time, areas such as the Innovation Hub, SmartTex Hub and our trend platforms show the development capabilities and innovative strength of our industry.”

A total of 15,493 trade professionals including 2,888 international visitors from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, North America, and other regions attended the three-day event, with European visitors accounting for 51,6% of all international attendees.

The 10th edition placed a strong emphasis on a targeted international visitor profile. Brands, buyers, sourcing specialists, designers and product developers met manufacturers at the stands, in the dedicated Business Lounge and through organised B₂B programmes. This approach supported Texhibition’s objective of bringing together exhibitors with relevant international decision-makers and creating concrete opportunities for new and existing business partnerships.

International visitors and participating brands included Coppel, Big Star, Polo Club Europe, Tendam Group, AllSaints, Next Sourcing, Moncler, Nike, Arc’teryx Equipment, Macy’s, Paige, Alice + Olivia and Talbots. The Hosted Buyer Programme additionally welcomed representatives from Betty Barclay, Bianca Moden, El Corte Inglés, Stradivarius, Bestseller, LPP, Giorgio Armani, Stone Island, Twin Set, Urban Outfitters, Robert Graham and Norma Kamali, among others.

Türkiye combines integrated production with material expertise

Texhibition reflected the broad capabilities of Türkiye’s textile industry, covering the value chain from yarn and fabric production to finishing, design and specialised textile solutions.

With an annual production value of approximately USD 78 billion across textiles and apparel and a strong position as a supplier to the European market, Türkiye combines large-scale manufacturing capacities with vertically integrated production, flexibility, short lead times and geographical proximity to its major export markets.

Alongside these established strengths, the 10th edition placed particular emphasis on material development, sustainable production, functionality and technology. Across the exhibition halls and curated special areas, manufacturers presented developments designed to meet increasingly differentiated requirements from international fashion brands and sourcing organisations.

Selected exhibitor portfolio strengthens Texhibition’s profile

Alongside around 500 exhibitors from Türkiye, the 10th edition also welcomed international exhibitors from Italy like CAFISSI S.P.A. and LANIFICIO BRUNETTO MORGANTI & C. S.P.A. as well as STYLEM TAKISADA-OSAKA CO., LTD. and UNI TEXTILE from Japan. Their participation further broadened the sourcing offer and underlined Texhibition’s development as an international textile platform in Istanbul. Looking ahead, Texhibition Istanbul aims to further increase both the number and diversity of international exhibitors, welcoming more leading companies from around the world to Istanbul. Through this continued international expansion, the fair seeks to

create new opportunities for global business connections and collaborations, while strengthening Istanbul’s role as a key global sourcing hub for the textile and fashion industry.

At the same time, Texhibition continues to follow a selective approach to its exhibitor portfolio. Participating companies are selected according to defined quality criteria, with a particular focus on product quality, production capabilities and the relevance of their collections for international sourcing markets. The organisers have made a conscious decision not to expand the exhibition beyond its current scale with the objective to maintain the quality and positioning of the fair, ensuring a strong and relevant exhibitor mix and provide international buyers with a clearly structured sourcing environment.

Blue Black puts denim in a Western setting

The Blue Black area provided a dedicated showcase for Türkiye’s internationally established denim industry. Leading denim manufacturers presented their latest denim collections, fabric developments, washes and finishes as well as solutions for more resource-efficient production.

For the 10th edition, Blue Black attracted attention with a distinctive Western theme, drawing on the visual world of cowboys and ranches. The setting created a strong visual identity for the area and referenced denim’s historical connection with workwear and Western culture.

Alongside the collections, a programme of seminars and talks provided additional insights into current developments in the denim sector. Industry experts addressed trends, new product and material developments and topics shaping the future of denim, complementing the commercial presentation with information and professional exchange. The program gave visitors the opportunity to combine sourcing with an overview of current directions in the international denim market.

The Denim B₂B Area added a further business dimension, with dedicated meetings connecting Turkish denim manufacturers directly with international

buyers and sourcing professionals. Together, product presentation, seminars, trend information and targeted B₂B meetings created a comprehensive platform for Türkiye’s denim sector within Texhibition.

International business at the centre

The combination of the international visitor programme, Hosted Buyer activities and dedicated B₂B formats strengthened the business focus of the 10th edition. More than 300 Turkish companies participated in nearly 2,500 bilateral meetings with international buyers, underlining the strong commercial character of Texhibition and its role as a platform for initiating concrete sourcing and business opportunities.

The effectiveness of this approach was confirmed by participating buyers. John Varvatos (USA) highlighted the B₂B programme as particularly valuable for meeting numerous new suppliers within a short period of time and praised the quality and variety of Turkish fabrics. With a strong interest in sourcing from Türkiye, the company regarded Texhibition as an effective platform for identifying new mills and potential business partners. Petite Maison Kids (USA) attended Texhibition for the first time and highlighted the breadth of the sourcing offer. The company particularly valued being able to discover new suppliers for fabrics, accessories, buttons and finishes in one place, making the sourcing process faster and more efficient. The programme generated concrete sourcing results. Twinset (Italy), attending Texhibition for the first time as well, successfully identified products matching its specific Fall/Winter sourcing requirements and particularly valued the fair’s organisation, clear structure and efficient access to relevant exhibitors and product areas.

The targeted visitor approach reflects Texhibition’s strategy of further developing the international reach and professional profile of the fair. By bringing exhibitors into direct contact with selected buyers and sourcing decision-makers, the dedicated business formats complemented the extensive business activity taking place throughout the exhibition halls.

In a global sourcing environment characterised by increasingly differentiated requirements in terms of quality, flexibility, sustainability, transparency and speed, Türkiye’s integrated textile infrastructure provides international buyers with access to a broad range of production and product-development capabilities.

Business exchange continued beyond the exhibition halls. The Texhibition Gala Night at Fişekhane brought together exhibitors, international buyers, industry representatives and partners for an evening of networking in one of Istanbul’s distinctive historical settings. Located at the Marmarasea at the entrance to the Bosphorus, the restored 19th-century industrial complex combines its original architectural heritage with contemporary event spaces. The evening provided an informal setting to continue conversations initiated during the fair and to strengthen international business relationships.

Trend Area: Turkish material expertise for Autumn/Winter 2027–28

The Trend Area presented the Autumn/Winter 2027–28 theme “Traces of Time – Carrying the Past into the Future” through the four trend worlds Earth, Sky, Light and Water.

A curated selection of woven and knitted fabrics and textile accessories supplied by Texhibition exhibitors translated the seasonal directions into concrete colour, material, surface and texture developments.

The extensive material presentation highlighted the diversity of the Turkish textile offer and the manufacturers’ ability to combine trend information with product development. Earth focused on material, memory and depth, Sky on lightness, air and possibility, Light on warmth, glow and perception and Water on flow, reflection and transformation.

In this way, the Trend Area provided international buyers with a concentrated overview of the fabrics, colours and surfaces expected to influence the Autumn/Winter 2027–28 season while directing them to the respective manufacturers within the fair.

Innovation Hub focuses on next-generation materials

Material innovation was further highlighted in the Innovation Hub, located in the foyer. Curated by Filiz Tunca and Gamze Saraçoğlu, the area brought

together developments at the interface of textiles, technology, sustainability and design.

Exhibits included developments based on hemp, bio-microencapsulation and thermal regulation as well as new approaches to material composition, finishing and functionality. Technical data and fabric specifications complemented the physical presentation and provided visitors with detailed information on the properties and potential applications of the materials.

Products and developments from Turkish manufacturers including Tan Tekstil, Nurel Group, Ağaoğlu Tekstil, Engin Textile, Baysara Tekstil, Pakipek Group, Deniz Tekstil and others demonstrated the range of material development within the industry.

Examples illustrated the diversity of the developments on display: Umorfil®, a bionic fibre incorporating collagen peptide amino acids derived from recycled fish scales, combines resource efficiency with functional properties; hemp-based textiles demonstrated the potential of durable, moisture-absorbing and biodegradable natural fibres; Saxcell/Cotton by Baysara Tekstil represented new approaches to fibre and material combinations; while a moisture-wicking, antibacterial and waterproof fabric showed how multiple performance properties can be integrated into a single textile solution.

SmartTex Hub makes its debut

The newly introduced SmartTex Hub added a dedicated platform for technical, functional and high-performance textiles to the 10th edition.

The area brought together 27 companies and institutions and was structured around three product categories: Functional & Smart Fabrics (Smart Performance), Eco-Technology & Upcycling (Eco-Tech) and Engineering & Innovative Fibres (Advanced Materials).

The displayed solutions ranged from thermoregulating technical surfaces, moisture-management technologies and water- and stain-repellent materials to antibacterial and UV-protective fabrics. Bio-based materials, certified recycled fibres and circular textile solutions represented the Eco-Tech segment, while Advanced Materials included ultra-light, high-strength technical yarns and next-generation composite structures.

Participating companies and institutions included Ada Denim, Ağaoğlu Tekstil, Altınyıldız, Arı Teks, Arta Tekstil, Biradlı Suni Deri, Can Tekstil, Nurel Group, Tan Tekstil and Tepar Tekstil as well as the Textile Engineering Department of Marmara University.

The new platform underlined the growing importance of technical and functional textiles within Türkiye’s textile production and demonstrated the industry's capabilities beyond conventional fashion fabrics.

ReValue Stock Hub supports circular textile sourcing

The ReValue Stock Hub complemented the fair’s sustainability focus with a practical approach to the circulation of existing textile resources.

The platform brought surplus fabrics into a dedicated sourcing environment and used digital tools and product identification to connect available stocks with potential new buyers and applications.

By facilitating the reuse of existing materials, ReValue added a circular sourcing component to Texhibition’s presentation of sustainable textile solutions. Together, the Innovation Hub, SmartTex Hub and ReValue Stock Hub covered three complementary areas: next-generation material development, functional and technical textiles, and the more efficient use of existing textile resources.

Knowledge and industry exchange

Alongside sourcing and business meetings, Texhibition offered a comprehensive seminar and panel programme addressing the developments shaping the textile industry. International trend expertise was provided by WGSN, with presentations on the Autumn/Winter 2027–28 fabric trends, and by designer and creative director Riccardo Rami, who explored The Age of Convergence.

Sustainability and technological transformation formed another focus. Experts from the ZDHC Foundation, Archroma and Fama Sourcing UK discussed chemical compliance and the path from MRSL to market, while representatives of Marmara University’s Textile Engineering Department contributed

perspectives on sustainability, the Digital Product Passport, technical textiles and innovative applications.

Further sessions examined the relationship between craftsmanship, artificial intelligence and digitalisation, including the digital journey of fabrics from physical swatches to the Digital Product Passport. The programme concluded with the panel “What Will the Future Be Woven From?”, moderated by fashion designer and creative director Gamze Saraçoğlu and featuring designer Niyazi Erdoğan and Mehtap Elaidi.

With its combination of established manufacturing expertise, international sourcing contacts, trend information and new platforms for innovative, sustainable and technical textiles, the 10th edition positioned Texhibition Istanbul as a comprehensive meeting point for the textile industry and international fashion sourcing.

“Türkiye’s textile industry combines a fully integrated production structure with flexibility, speed, quality and strong expertise in materials and product development", states Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM). "These capabilities are becoming increasingly important for international brands as sourcing requirements evolve. Platforms such as Texhibition give us the opportunity to present this strength directly to buyers from around the world, build new partnerships and further reinforce Türkiye’s position in international textile and apparel supply chains.”