Textile Sector in Turkey: Promising Trends and Strategies

Article Author: Musa Timbek – Corporate Technical Consultant

What you need to increase your competitiveness is much more than a story. We can express these as a stable stance, a dedicated work and a sustainable strategy.

The Turkish textile industry should focus on technology adaptation, sustainability and opening up to global markets for future success. Innovation and flexibility are the key elements that will strengthen the competitive advantage of players in the sector. The Turkish textile sector, which is losing employment day by day, should first of all protect and support its existing human resources. Factors that enable the participation of new human resources should be identified and incentivized.

The Role of Technological Advances

The textile industry is shaped by an constantly changing technological landscape. Innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and digitalization provide the industry with a competitive advantage by optimizing production processes. However, most enterprises are unaware of these technological developments. There are not enough qualified personnel, white collars and units to follow and implement these developments. Textiles in Turkey have become unable to respond to market demands that are changing faster and faster every year. Far from digitalization, enterprises are still unable to see their losses due to manual operations and production-cost optimization and quality standards continue to bleed day by day. While businesses far from technological developments are looking for solutions; unfortunately, cost-reducing methods are regressing in production by reducing employment, continuing with unqualified personnel and compromising quality.

Sustainable Production and Environmentally Friendly Practices

As sustainability and environmental awareness increases globally, textile companies should focus on sustainable production methods. The use of recyclable materials and environmentally friendly production processes can make companies in the sector stand out. Business transformations should be supported by renewable energy sources. It is of great importance to switch to nature-friendly production with a carbon neutral approach. Unfortunately, businesses that do not act with a vision of sustainability and try to save the day will disappear very quickly both in exports and in the domestic market.

Impact of Fashion and Design

Given the changing demands of consumers, adapting quickly to fashion and design trends is critical. Creative design and innovation can put companies at the forefront of the competition. In order not to miss out on trends, innovation offices should be established where effective and creative ideas will grow in line with this mission. It should not be forgotten that the impact of design plays a huge role in the supply-demand relationship. It should constantly update its branding initiatives with its own designs and creations that anticipate the future.

Strategies to Open Global Markets

The Turkish textile sector needs a strong export strategy to gain a competitive advantage in international markets. By focusing on global trade relations, it can increase the growth potential in the sector. Thanks to our location, we have a very large logistics network in the global market. Using this network, we should follow current market trends and adjust our production lines accordingly. By strengthening our marketing units, we should be able to turn our route to markets where our competitive power is high based on more solid foundations in environments where regional and global risks are present.

Qualified Human Resources and Training

The need for a qualified workforce that can keep up with the developments in the textile sector should not be ignored. Training programs and talent management strategies can increase the chances of success for businesses in the sector. We should prepare the existing human resources for the future in line with a conscious and planned strategy. The first step is for all businesses to check where they have made mistakes, their shortcomings and their own corporate cultural structures. Managers and employers who fail to adopt a corporate identity and misuse their existing human resources are doomed to drown in a constant stalemate. It is not enough just to structure the right human resources and the company mission. It is of utmost importance that a sustainable, measurable training modeling is made and put into practice. Creating reward systems that encourage qualified personnel in the company structure will motivate and support all employees within the company.

Crisis Management

Global events, especially pandemics and economic crises, can affect the textile industry. Flexibility, crisis management and risk mitigation strategies can increase the sustainability of businesses operating in the sector. In these situations, it is essential to have an absolute plan B on the table. The capacity and competence of current managers to manage crises will prevent the company from shrinking in the market. Downsizing with a pessimistic foresight is the greatest helplessness. In crisis management, existing human resources should be protected first and foremost.

Digital Transformation and E-Commerce

The rise of digital commerce offers new markets and sales opportunities for the textile industry. Integration into online sales platforms and effective e-commerce strategies can help companies expand their customer base. In order to respond to the demands and requests of customers, the functionality of e-archives should be increased and always accessible. E-Commerce transformation of textile is still very troublesome. It is very difficult to be successful in this field without integrating the existing database into the e-commerce system. In addition, it is essential that the basic principles that will sustain and grow e-commerce reach a sufficient level in marketing units.