The tenth edition of Istanbul Fashion Connection (IFCO), held from August 19 to 21, 2026, showcased the growing international reach of Türkiye’s fashion and apparel industry. Bringing together more than 200 exhibitors at the Istanbul Expo Center, the event served as a major platform for international buyers, retailers, and distributors to negotiate sourcing solutions across diverse product categories, including womenswear, menswear, kidswear, denim, eveningwear, and accessories.

Drawing 12,550 trade visitors from 117 countries, IFCO highlighted Türkiye’s strong market position, built on design expertise, robust manufacturing infrastructure, and short lead times. International buyers accounted for 36% of overall attendance (4,525 visitors), with the largest delegations arriving from the Middle East (42.9%), Europe (21.4%), Asia (19.8%), and North Africa (10.6%). Key participating markets included Russia, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

“Over the past four years, IFCO has made significant progress and established itself as an international platform for the Turkish fashion industry. It brings together design and production expertise, connects brands with buyers, and turns creative vision into business opportunities,” said Mustafa Paşahan, president of IHKIB. “This growing international reach demonstrates the strength of Türkiye’s fashion industry and Istanbul’s role as a global fashion and sourcing hub.”

B2B connections drive business at IFCO

The Hosted Buyer Programme and structured B2B meetings at IFCO connected exhibitors with major global buyers, department stores, and distributors. High-profile attendees included Harvey Nichols (Saudi Arabia), Landmark Group (UAE), Father and Sons (France), Moss Bros (UK), and Barcelino Continental (USA). Meetings generated concrete follow-ups, sample requests, and order negotiations, reinforcing IFCO's role in building long-term business relationships.

THE CORE focuses on contemporary Turkish design

THE CORE platform showcased the creative side of Turkish fashion through a curated fashion installation, deliberately contrasting with conventional product presentations. The exhibit brought together a diverse range of creative signatures in contemporary Turkish design, featuring gender-fluid and conceptual collections from leading designers, including Mehtap Elaidi, Sudi Etuz by Şansım Adalı, and Emre Erdemoğlu. By combining creative design, quality, and manufacturing expertise, the event highlighted Turkish fashion's growing competitive advantage.

IFCO Expands Focus on Denim, Menswear, and LINEXPO

The Denim Area highlighted Türkiye’s integrated manufacturing and sustainable finishing technologies, from fabric development and washing and finishing technologies to garment production, featuring brands like Catch and Koza Denim. A redesigned exhibition concept for the Menswear showcase put top brands like Kiğılı and Jakamen front and center; LINEXPO brought a selected group of exhibitors dedicated to lingerie, swimwear, and loungewear collections to Hall 8, adding significant value for both buyers and brands.

Trend Area explores AW 2027/28 trends

Curated by the Istanbul Fashion Academy, the Resonate Trend Area presented four key macro trends for womenswear and menswear for the Autumn/Winter 2027/28 season, reflecting a focus on comfort, functionality, and longevity:

> Attune: Soft tailoring, tactile materials, and reduced silhouettes for inner balance.
> Echoform: Modernized heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and familiar forms.
> Sync Mode: Modular, transformable, and functional designs for flexible, digital-physical lifestyles.
> Pulse Play: Vibrant colors, playful proportions, and experimental styling.

IFCO combines knowledge sharing with runway shows

Beyond the collections, IFCO once again served as a platform for knowledge transfer and industry dialogue. The event also featured seminars on AI integration, sustainability, the European Green Deal, the Digital Product Passport, traceability, certification, and resource-efficient manufacturing processes. Two days of runway presentations highlighted craftsmanship and brand identity from labels including FIMKA, Terzi Adem Altun, and Quesste Maxra, reinforcing the event's role as a multidimensional fashion platform.

IHKIB also announced key future updates:

> Sourceist Launch: A new B2B platform dedicated to international sourcing business, debuting February 4 to 5, 2027, bringing international brands and buying groups together with high-capacity Turkish manufacturers.

> Schedule Shift: From 2027, the second edition of the year will move from August to September. The change better aligns the fair with global buying calendars and planning cycles, optimizing conditions for efficient fair visits and concrete business outcomes.

Next dates
IFCO – Istanbul Fashion Connection
February 3–6, 2027
September 8–11, 2027
Sourceist > New
February 4–5, 2027
Texhibition Istanbul
September 9–11, 2026
March 3–5, 2027