Turkey as a guest nation with "Turkiss Delight" for SS15
Istanbul Apparel and Design Cluster is specialised in Womenswear comprising 25 Turkish companies, which include 12 manufacturers and 13 designers.
Within the project of UR-GE, “Improving International Competitiveness Through Design, Trend and Promotion Based Cooperation in Ready-Made Garment Sector”, nine Turkish designers and eight Turkish manufacturer companies will attend WHO'S NEXT for its Spring/Summer 2015 season.
This project was initiated by IHKIB – Istanbul Ready-Made Garment Exporters Association, and is supported by the Ministry of Economy of Turkey in order to represent the RTW and Design sector from Turkey.
From 4th to 7th July, with Turkey as the guest nation and “Turkiss Delight” as the theme, 9 designers and 8 manufacturer companies will attend WHO'S NEXT in the aim of forming a collaboration culture among the manufacturers and designers. Amongst these designers, visitors will find Tuvana Buyukcinar Demir (Tuvanam), Asli Guler, Nejla Guvenc (Nej), Mehtap Elaidi, Cigdem Akin, Simay Bulbul, Gul Agis (Lug Von Siga), Nihan Peker and Ozlem Kaya. Turkish manufacturer companies are represented by Badilli, Baran, Bisa, Ayliz, Setre, Paristan, Dantel and Nurteks.
For more information, consult the website of WHO'S NEXT.
Continue reading for the introduction to the Turkish designers and manufacturing companies.
(I) DESIGNERS
TUVANAM
The designer Tuvana Buyukcinar studied Industrial Design at Mimar Sinan University and worked as an editor for Turkey’s leading fashion magazines. In 1999 she opened her first boutique called “A46” in Nişantaşı, Istanbul. In 2005, she started RTW clothing production, retail trade and export with her brands "Tuvanam" and "Tutti". Tuvanam has a strong presence in the Middle East and Europe and aims to be sold in the US, Russia and the Far East.
More on: www.tuvanam.com
ASLI GULER
After graduating from Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Architecture in 1999, Asli Guler participated in training programs of Central Saint Martin’s School of Design in London. Between 2000 and 2008, she worked as a fashion designer for world-renowned retail chain brands such as Arcadia Group, Inditex Group, Express&Limited Brands and Lindex. In 2008, she created her own brand “Aslı Güler” and established her own design studio. Meanwhile designing womenswear for “Asli Guler”, she creates menswear and childrenswear collections for Spain, Northern Europe, the United Kingdom and Russia.
More on: www.asliguler.com
CIGDEM AKIN
Since 24 years Çiğdem Akın, born in 1970 in Istanbul, is working as a designer in the fashion world. After having worked for Vakko’s Design Team for 16 years, she established the “Çiğdem Akın” brand in 2004, bearing her own name. Her first store was opened in Galata. Çiğdem Akın’s main area of activity is women’s ready-to-wear and since 2006, she participates in the Who’s Next Prêt-à-Porter Fair in Paris. Apart from her own brand, she also provides design support for some brands. In addition to Turkey, Çiğdem Akın also operates in Italy, England and the Middle East.
More on: www.cigdemakin.com.tr
LUG VON SIGA
After working in the advertisement and media industry for several years, Gül Ağış, who was born in Istanbul in 1971, went to Istituto Marangoni in Milano where she undertook a Fashion Design education. Afterwards, she won a scholarship for her master's degree at Politecnico di Design. Following her graduation, she worked for four years at C’N’C Costume National in Milano. Afterwards, when returning to Istanbul, she established the “‘Lug Von Siga” brand and opened her first store in Nişantaşı. In addition to London, Tokyo, Milan and Istanbul, Gül Ağış aims to have a presence in the States, France and the Middle East.
More on: www.lugvonsiga.com
MEHTAP ELAIDI
With her eponymous brand “Mehtap Elaidi”, as opposed to other designers, the Turkish designer prefers adapting trends instead of following them up. Mehtap Elaidi opened her first store in Nişantaşı in 2000 and began participating in international fairs. During the Parisian PAP Fair in 2008, she introduced her second brand “Kaf’dan by Elaidi". Mehtap Elaidi, who provides consultancy services for various companies and projects, has sales points in Turkey as well as in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Morocco, Kuwait, Dubai, Bahrain, the US and in France. Mehtap Elaidi designs and manufactures products in the field of women’s ready-to-wear. She aims expanding her market activity scope to the States and an inclusion in the Russian market in the future. Mehtap Elaidi is also the president of Turkish Fashion Designers Association.
More on: www.mehtapelaidi.com
NEJ
Nejla Güvenç, who was born in 1969 in Istanbul and has worked in the fashion industry for many years, participated in the design teams of the Deri Show and Beymen Business brands. As an ecologic adventure, she calls her brand “NEJ”, which was created in 2001, and uses organic materials in her designs. In 2012, she was elected as the ambassador of fashion, art and peace by the United Cultures Organization. In addition to Turkey, the brand is also sold in France, Italy, England, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Lebanon, Kuwait, Greece, Benelux, Korea and China. Nejla Güvenç also provides design support for renowned brands such as Hugo Boss, Zapa, Rogan, Iro, Gloria Estelles, Pierre Cardin, Gap, Nike, Banana Republic, Zara and Massimo Dutti . Her next aim is the presence in the markets of Japan, China, South Korea and Sweden.
More on: www.nej.com.tr
NIHAN PEKER
Nihan Peker, born in 1985 in Istanbul, graduated from Yeditepe University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Fashion and Textile Design. Following her apprenticeship and work experiences in Turkey, she went to the Istituto Marangoni in Milan for a master’s degree education and graduated with honours. She prepared collections for renowned Italian brands such as Frankie Morello, Colmar and Furla. The “Porter” collection of Nihan Peker, which made it to the final during the design contest, took the stage in London, Paris and Milan. The designer returned to Istanbul in 2009 and established her brand bearing her own name. In Turkey and the Middle East, Nihan Peker designs and produces upper-under group women’s wear and accessories. She aims producing various shirts, knit groups, outerwear and evening dress design products in Europe and Russia in addition to her existing products.
More on: www.nihanpeker.com
OZLEM KAYA
Özlem Kaya, who entered Mimar Sinan University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Textile in 1995, stepped into the professional life when she met Hakan Yıldırım during her education. For six years, she was involved in collection preparation, customer relations, various domestic and foreign fair organisations and fashion shows. She launched her own atelier in 2004 and began designing with the “Özlem Kaya” brand. Özlem Kaya, who makes all designs and productions on the subject of womenswear, prepares two collections each year and also works for the “Asymmetry” brand of the Boyner Holding. She aims that her designs are placed in the Far East, New York and London.
More on: www.ozlemkaya.com
SIMAY BULBUL
Simay Bülbül obtained her education on fashion design in England and the Netherlands. Since 2001, she is actively involved in the fashion world. She has been ranked as Turkey’s first designer during the 2003 Designer Leather Design Contest. She created the “Simay Bülbül” brand in 2007 and began to make leather designs bearing her own label. In 2009, she opened her first store in Galata with the name “‘Leather Design Boutique”. Simay Bülbül is represented in Turkey and the Middle East.
More on: www.simaybulbul.com
(II) MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
AYLIZ
Ayliz, was established in 2012 and engages in manufacturing, export and trading of women’s outerwear. With its team of 25-50 employees and 1 designer, Ayliz’s product range includes jackets, clothes, reefer jackets, trousers, skirts, shirts and blouses. Ayliz Tekstil’s current markets are Russia, Ukraine and the Arabic countries and its target market is Africa. Ayliz Tekstil aims being more predominant in the existing markets.
More on: www.ayliz.com.tr
BADILLI
Since 1979 Badilli engages in the manufacturing and export industry of women’s circular knitwear. With its team comprised of 300-350 employees, 5 stylists and 1 designer, Badilli’s product range includes dresses, blouses and skirts. Badilli’s current markets are Germany, the Netherlands, France, United States of America and Russia and its target market is Japan.
More on: www.badillitextile.com
BARAN
Baran Giyim, which was established in 1986, continues to operate with the Womma brand. Baran Giyim’s main field of activity is ready-to-wear and the company is also engaged in export. Baran Giyim has over 100 customers with a team of 50 - 75 people and 3 designers. Its current markets are Europe, Northern Africa, Middle Asia and Russia and its target markets are the States and Africa. Its product range includes clothes, evening dress suits, topcoats, coats, jackets and trousers. Its new target is the manufacturing of evening dresses.
More on: www.womma.com.tr
BISA
Bisa Collection was established in 1985. Bisa Collection’s products are skirts, trousers, reefer jackets, clothes, suits, blouses and jackets. The company operates in the 44-52 size women’s ready-to-wear range. Bisa Collection’s current markets are in Russia, the US, France, Ukraine and the Turkic Republics. Its target markets are Europe, Germany and Finland.
More on: www.bisacollection.com
DANTEL
Dantel is established in 1994 and is engaged in exports of RTW ladies garments produced of knitted fabrics. Dantel designs collections according to its customers’ needs and produces especially fancy garments with high added value. Its product range consists of T-shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, jackets, leggings and sweatshirts. Dantel aims at diversifying and widening its sales markets.
More on: www.dantelltd.com
NURTEKS
Nurteks, established in 1994, engages in production and export of women’s ready-to-wear with the “NURausTROIA” brand. Their collection range includes T-shirt’s, blouses, clothes, nightdresses and pyjamas. Nurteks team is comprised of 50 employees and two designers. Nurteks exports their products to Europe with a great focus on Germany, and periodically to USA. They are looking for new markets in Scandinavian countries.
More on: www.nurteks.com
PARISTAN
Paristan Tekstil, which was established in 1989, engages in manufacturing and exportof evening dress suits with the Paristan brand. Paristan Tekstil’s product range includes suits, skirts, jackets, clothes, blouses and trousers. Its team comprises 11-25 employees and designers. Paristan Tekstil’s current markets are Moscow, Austria, Kazakhstan, France and Croatia. Its target is to expand to Europe and become stronger in the Middle Eastern and Russian markets.
More on: www.paristan.com.tr
SETRE
Setre, which was established in 1974, produces collections with its own brand and in the field of women’s ready-to-wear. With a staff of 50-75 people and 3 designers, Setre has over 250 customers. The current active markets are the Arabic Countries ANDthe Commonwealth of Independent States . Its target markets are the US, Europe and the Far Eastern Countries. Its product range consists of reefer jackets, jackets, trousers, clothes and blouses. The newly targeted product is the daily evening dress.
More on: www.setretekstil.com
– Görkem Hayta
