Nearly 150 top executives from Turkish, European, and US brands, Turkish, Egyptian, Moroccan and Tunisian garment manufacturers and Turkish textile manufacturers accelerated their normal sourcing process at the 3rd Mediterranean Sourcing Fair, organized by Cotton Council International in Istanbul on 14-17 April 2015.
The COTTON USA Sourcing Fair combined briefings on: (a) the World Cotton Market by Jon Devine, Senior Economist, Cotton Incorporated; (b) Turkish Garment Manufacturing Sector by Seref Fayat, President TGSD; and (c) an overview of African cotton textile and garment sectors by Belinda Edmonds, Executive Director ACTIF (African Cotton Textile Industries Federation). Cotton Council International appreciates the valuable support of TGSD and ACTIF for the Sourcing Fair. Following market briefings in an intensive 1 1/2 day period, a record nearly 1,400 personal meetings were scheduled matching buyers and sellers for yarn, fabric and garments. Key participating retailers included: Artsana (brands Prenatal; Chicco; Pio; Lycia; Control); Benetton (brands: Benetton; UCB; Undercolours; Sisley); Cecil; Contonella (brands: Cotonella; Linea Sprint; Altra Cotonella); DeFacto; El Corte Ingles; Ernsting’s Family (brands; Gina; Gina Benotti; Van Vaan; Yigga; Topomini); Gardeur (brands: Atelier Gardeur; G-Design; Thomas Rath Trousers); K&L Ruppert (brands: Vittorio Rossi; Cool Code; Michele; Boyard; Livre; TantomO.N.; Paul Smith); LC Waikiki; Manifattura Corona (brands: Blue Side; Virginia Blu; Eddie Pen; Granchio; Be Board; Crown; Sea Barrier); Manifatture Del Nord (brands: Max & Co; Penny Black); Marella; Orvis; Pompea (brands: Pompea; Roberta); Rifle; s. Oliver (brands: s.Oliver; s.Oliver Premium, Triangle by s.Oliver; Comma); Sisley; Street One; Teddy (brands: Terranova; Calliope; Terranova Kids; Rinascimento). When asked about the value of the event to retailers, Dr. İbrahim Güneş, Fabric Sourcing Manager for LC Waikiki commented “I think Cotton USA Sourcing Fair organized by Cotton Council International was extremely productive for Turkish and European buyers. In a time featuring economic challenges and orders moving away from the Far East, bringing together Turkish and European buyers with Turkish and North African fabric and garment manufacturers was very opportune and contributed to the continuum of the fabric and garment production in the region. I would like to thank Cotton Council International and its team for this timely and valuable organization.” Early results show evidence of extensive sampling, significant numbers of trial orders and plans for future sales / sourcing partnerships. Previous similar events generated tens of millions of dollars in new sales for Turkish companies. Participating Turkish textile companies include: Akin, Alteks, Balsoy, Bossa, Dynamo, Erdem, Ensar, Gap Guneydogu, Iskur, Matesa, Sahtas, Sirikcioglu; from the Turkish garment manufacturing sector, Badilli, Dinateks, Kaynak, Negreti, Peracons, and System took part
