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The coronavirus pandemic negatively affected the textile, garment and fashion industries. The sector, which has turned to the domestic market due to employment and foreign market problems, has taken a deep breath with e-commerce. Textile businessman Fahri Şahin made some evaluations on the post-pandemic status of the textile and fashion sectors.

*** This release is originally published in Turkish.
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ISTANBUL (TR) - Fahri Şahin, Vice Chairman of Bordo Group, made evaluations about the current state of the Turkish textile industry, which was facing problems due to the coronavirus (Covid-19). Stating that “E-commerce is the lifeline for the industry”, Şahin said, “It would be very difficult to sustain the sector if it was not e-commerce.”

Fahri Şahin, one of the important names of the Turkish textile industry, reminded that the coronavirus pandemic spread from China to the world caused changes in international markets and the commercial balances were shaken. Şahin said, “It is unthinkable that the textile and fashion industry will not be affected by this situation. Employment and production problems emerged in the sector. Currently, almost all physical stores are closed, except for online retail sales.”

“It would be very difficult to sustain the industry without e-commerce” Şahin emphasized his words and made the following assessment; “Textile and fashion products are among the most sold products through e-commerce. For this reason, the coronavirus once again revealed the importance of online retail sales. It is obvious that textile and garment companies will give more importance to e-commerce after coronavirus because companies that do not have online sales have started to suffer from coronavirus.”

“The importance of natural antibacterial textile products will increase”

Reminding that the coronavirus can easily penetrate the clothes and remain on the textile products for a long time, Şahin said that this will transform the textile industry. Şahin said, “Covid-19 once again demonstrated the importance of natural antibacterial products. Textile raw materials such as bamboo, wool, linen and cotton with natural antibacterial properties gained more importance. These products with natural antibacterial properties after coronavirus will further increase their importance. Our textile industrialists and consumers should consider this issue with an environmentally friendly approach. Products such as bamboo, wool, linen and cotton, which are healthy and natural textile fibers, will be preferred to textile products made by chemical processes.”

Şahin also said, “The fashion industry will start to think more environmentally and sensitively by taking lessons from this pandemic. Consumers will also prefer antibacterial products. For this reason, companies will have to focus on organic and recyclable, sustainable products.”

"Turkey is in an advantageous position compared to China"

Fahri Şahin pointed out that Turkey's garment, textile and leather products exports are around $ 30 billion. Stating that this amount is 10 times the size of textile exports to China according to Turkey's advantageous position, Sahin said, “Turkey, proximity to Europe, production and product preparation potential for reasons such as textile giant China is in an advantageous position. The markets lost by China, the country where coronavirus began to spread, are headed to Turkey. Our brand products in the textile, garment and fashion sector began to be preferred more in the European market due to coronavirus. This situation creates a great advantage in our textile industrialists opener.”

"Europe must be convinced that Turkey is an alternative to China"

Stating that China products are facing low demand, Turkey's textile exports will continue to increase, Sahin said, “Turkish textile, garment products demand is increasing. The contraction in the Chinese market textile products created an opportunity for us. Countries moving away from Chinese products are coming to Turkey. The production and demand of textile raw materials and products unique to us, such as Turkish cotton is increasing.”

Fahri Sahin said that textile sector in Turkey expect new orders worth of 2 billion dollars and they have sufficient capacity to meet new orders coming from Europe. Stating that textile companies in many European countries looking for a partner in Turkey for sales, Shin said, “Turkey will be very popular after the pandemic. Turkey needs this opportunity to good reviews. Price, quality and time formula should be solved correctly. Thus, European countries must be convinced that Turkey is the best alternative to China.”

Sahin pointed out that Turkey Clothing Manufacturers' Association (TGSD) is taking a proactive behavior towards the measures taken in the textile sector due to the coronavirus pandemic. Textile business person Stating that the effects of the pandemic could continue for another 6 months, textile businessman said that normalization steps can be taken after May.