In Türkiye, the textile and ready-to-wear sector has in recent years frequently been associated with
discourses such as “it is ending,” “it is moving abroad,” and “it is losing its competitiveness.”
However, the figures clearly show that while the sector is under pressure, it has not disappeared; on the
contrary, it continues its existence by transforming.
There is another reality that these results point to: that textiles will not come to an end in Türkiye… Because the long-established production culture built over years, the strategic geographical location at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, the integrated production infrastructure extending from yarn to apparel, and the qualified human resources formed over many years stand out as the permanent safeguards of this sector. Despite global economic fluctuations, the Turkish textile sector maintains its strong position with its high export capacity and integrated production structure. The total exports of the textile and ready-to-wear sectors reached USD 25.83 billion in 2025. European Union countries continued to be the main market for Turkish textiles.
This scale reveals that the sector is not based solely on the domestic market; it is an indispensable part of global supply chains. Ahmet Öksüz, Chairman of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (ITHIB), while acknowledging that capacity utilization rates in some companies have fallen to the 50–60% range, emphasizes that claims that the sector has completely collapsed do not reflect the truth; with his assessment, “The sector is under strain but standing; because production capability still exists and companies are trying to adapt to new conditions,” he points to this billion lira to 33 billion lira in 2025, and expressed that the decreases observed in financing costs also help the sector meet investment and operating needs. resilience. This strong position also reflects Türkiye’s role in global textile trade. Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat expresses the sector’s international success with the following words: “Turkish textiles are now a world brand.
As sought-after and desired products, as products with high competitiveness in the world, they make us proud. We receive a 4% share of world textile and ready-to wear trade. We rank 6th in the world in textiles, apparel and clothing, and 3rd as a supplier to the European Union.” This strong production and export potential is also reflected in political and economic will’s view of the sector. Ömer Bolat stated that within the scope of support policies, the supports provided to exporters last year were increased from 24.7 These statements reveal that textiles are still seen as a strategic sector for the Turkish economy. Export incentives maintained by the state, financing facilities, promotion and green transformation programs are evaluated as part of a determined approach aimed at preserving the sector’s global competitiveness. This approach further strengthens the reality that textiles are not a sector that has been “written off,” but on the contrary, a production sector that needs to be protected, supported and transformed.
Textiles in Türkiye Have A Historical Production Practice
One of the most important reasons why textiles do not come to an end in Türkiye is that they possess a production culture spanning thousands of years. Anatolia has historically been one of the centers of cotton, wool, silk and linen production, and weaving and fabric production were passed down from generation to generation through the master–apprentice tradition. For this reason, textiles are not only an economic field of activity for Türkiye, but continue to live on as part of the cultural memory of society as a social reflex and an established production practice. In Anatolia, weaving, spinning and fabric production stood at the center of economic life for centuries. This deep-rooted past has endowed the sector not only with technical knowledge, but also with production discipline, a perception of quality and professional reflexes. Behind today’s production carried out in modern facilities lies this accumulation passed down through generations. Therefore, textiles in Türkiye are seen not as a job that is “learned,” but as a job that is “known.”
One Of The Sector’s Strongest Pillars: Its Unique Geographical Location
One of the strongest pillars of the Turkish textile sector is its unique geographical location. Proximity to cotton production regions, being located at the intersection of European, Middle Eastern, North African and Central Asian markets, and short delivery times make Türkiye a strategic player in global supply chains. From Europe’s perspective, Türkiye goes beyond being a strong alternative that reduces dependence on China; in times of crisis, it functions as “supply chain insurance.” In terms of carbon footprint, inventory costs and customs procedures, Türkiye continues to maintain significant advantages compared to the Far East. This geographical advantage becomes a determining factor especially in textile and ready to-wear orders requiring fast delivery. Being able to deliver to the European market within a few days reduces inventory costs, lowers supply risks and places Türkiye at the center of “nearshoring” strategies. Disruptions experienced in global supply chains once again reveal that Türkiye is not only a producer, but also a safe and flexible production base.
Flexible and Fast Production Capability
Another fundamental strength of the Turkish textile sector is its flexible and fast production capability. Small-batch production, short lead times, adaptation to special orders and rapid collection changes make Türkiye indispensable especially for Europe-based brands. Unlike countries that produce in large volumes but slowly, the Turkish textile sector has a structure that can quickly adapt to changing demands. From fast fashion to boutique brands, from classic textiles to technical and functional products, a wide production range can be sustained within the same infrastructure. This gives the sector both flexibility and scalability.
The Most Strategic Strength of The Textile Sector: Human Resources
Human resources are perhaps the most strategic strength of the Turkish textile sector. In Türkiye, textiles are not a sector based solely on labor; they have a production culture that requires knowledge, experience and mastery of the field. Masters, technicians and engineers are trained with an understanding that is fully in command of every stage of the production process, able to “produce solutions when the machine stops.” Although employment has declined in recent years, more than 1 million people still work in the textile and ready-to-wear sectors. This magnitude shows that the sector maintains its economic and social weight. When this knowledge accumulation is combined with automation and advanced technology investments, it transforms Türkiye from an ordinary production center into a high value-added production base.
The Turkish Textile Industry Knows How To Be Resilient Against Crises
The resilience of the Turkish textile sector against crises is also noteworthy. Having experienced numerous shocks such as devaluations, the pandemic, energy crises and major natural disasters, the sector has managed to survive each time by changing its production model, product range or target markets. The widespread family-owned company structure gives firms the opportunity to transform and reposition themselves during crises rather than completely withdrawing from the market. This ability to adapt shows that textiles in Türkiye are not “fragile,” but a transformable and resilient sector.
Strong Integrated Facilities
Behind this flexibility lies an extremely strong and integrated industrial ecosystem. The fact that almost the entire production chain—from yarn production to weaving and knitting, from dyeing and finishing to apparel—is established within a single country stands out as one of the most critical factors that distinguishes Türkiye from its competitors. In addition, textile machinery manufacturers, chemical companies, auxiliary material suppliers and technical service infrastructure are also available in the domestic market. An integrated structure at this level exists in only a limited number of countries worldwide. The integrated production structure facilitates quality control, shortens delivery times and significantly reduces dependence on foreign sources during crisis periods.
A Strong “Made in Türkiye” Perception
In international markets, the perception of “Made in Türkiye” remains strong. Turkish textiles are associated not with cheapness, but with quality, durability, delivery reliability and a sustainable supply approach. The fact that more than 35,000 companies exported in the textile and ready-to-wear sectors in 2025 shows that the sector is not based on a few large players, but on a broad, widespread and scaled producer base. This structure is one of the most important indicators of the sector’s sustainability. As a result, the Turkish textile sector may experience periodic fluctuations; however, its complete disappearance is neither economically nor politically possible. When geographical advantages, strong human resources, integrated industrial structure, the ability to adapt to crises and strategic policy choices come together, textiles in Türkiye will continue their existence by changing shape. Traditional production may decline, the product structure may transform; however, textiles will continue to be one of the fundamental and indispensable sectors of the Turkish economy
