Gültepe: We Will Not Sacrifice Our Fashion Industry

Important Statement from TİM President Gültepe

Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), emphasized that the ready-made clothing sector has a critical importance for the Turkish economy, stating, “We will not sacrifice our fashion industry, which is at the stage of establishing a global brand.”

Export Figures and Sector Analysis

Gültepe spoke at the award ceremony organized by the Istanbul Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters' Association (İHKİB). He noted that the 16.8 billion dollars in exports achieved by the sector in 2025 fell below expectations, drawing attention to the imbalance between costs and exchange rates.

Exchange Rate Imbalance and Competitive Strength

Gültepe stated that between January 2022 and January 2026, the minimum wage increased by 560%, and inflation rose by 367%. He emphasized that the increases in the exchange rates of the dollar and euro were only 217% and 228%, respectively, indicating that the failure to maintain this balance weakened the competitive power of the sectors.

Export Contraction and Loss of Employment

Gültepe reported that ready-made clothing exports have declined by 4.4 billion dollars in the last three years and that imports are approaching 5 billion dollars. He mentioned that many businesses have closed, and more than 30% of total employment has been lost. Nevertheless, the sector continues to provide employment for more than 500,000 people and contributes over 12 billion dollars to closing the current account deficit.

Urgent Support Call for the Sector

Gültepe expressed that labor-intensive sectors require urgent support, requesting an increase in the current 3,500 lira employment support to 6,000 lira and the minimum wage support to 2,500 lira. He stated that it is impossible to compete with Bangladesh or Vietnam in price-oriented competition, adding that the solution lies in high technology, R&D, innovation, and branding.

Achievements at the Award Ceremony

During the ceremony, a total of 1,185 companies were awarded plaques and certificates. The Trendyol special awards were presented to brands such as The Champ Clothing, Magu, and Bianco.