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Clothing and apparel exports reached 4.7 billion dollars in the first quarter of the year. The most exporting city was Istanbul, and the most exported country was Germany. Samancı Group Board Member Mahir Samancı said, “If the right steps are taken, we can advance the picture in the first quarter and close the year with exports of 20 billion dollars.”

*** This release is originally published in Turkish.
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İSTANBUL (TR) - Many sectors in Turkey have started to deal with the negative effects of the pandemic since the first months of the year. At the beginning of these sectors came ready-to-wear and apparel. According to the statement made by Halifaks within Samancı Group, which examines TIM data, ready-to-wear and apparel exports increased by 11.62% in the first quarter of the year compared to the previous year and reached 4.7 billion dollars.Germany was at the top of the list of the most exported countries with 844 million dollars. It was followed by Spain with 570 million, the United Kingdom with 410 million, the Netherlands with 324 million and France with 230 million. Our top exporting province was Istanbul with 3.2 billion dollars, followed by Bursa with 376 million, İzmir with 351 million and Denizli with 293 million dollars.

“We can close the year with 20 billion dollars of exports” 

Making evaluations about the data they analyzed, Samancı Group Board Member Mahir Samancı said, “In the pandemic, we have seen that sectors that are in close contact with the end user, especially, learn important lessons in terms of digital transformation. This situation enabled the clothing and apparel industry to enter a rapid recovery period. We can say that the moves to integrate into the digital age reflected positively on exports. If we succeed in evaluating these moves as an indispensable condition for catching the future, not as a savior, we can ensure that the momentum is sustainable. If the right steps are taken, as the sector, we can move the picture in the first quarter of the year much further and close the year with 20 billion dollars of exports.”

More contribution to the country's economy with the “Direct Sales from Manufacturer to Consumer” model

Mahir Samancı, who exemplifies the subject through the works of Halifaks, one of the 6 brands within the group, said, “Halifaks has been producing men's knitwear and t-shirts since 1965. Our brand, which has been engaged in wholesale and retail sales since its establishment, has increased its digital investments and accelerated its retail activities in e-commerce for the last 6 months. In times when the world and trade were much smaller than today, sales were made directly from the producer to the end consumer. In today's global world, the market for brands is all over the world and now we can deliver what we produce directly to consumers through e-commerce, and we can prioritize the customer experience by adopting the DTC business model with the concept of “Direct-to-Consumer”. Our aim is to further increase our contribution to the national economy by positioning Halifaks, which has gained value among wholesale brands so far, among the rising brands in retail by following the correct digital transformation steps.”