Design, Fashion and Brand Strategy from Türkiye: Regional Expansion Through Creative Collaboration
The Rise of Türkiye’s Fashion Scene: Design, Collaborations, and Global Integration
Türkiye has become a strategic focal point in the international fashion and textile sector by 2025. Going beyond being a production hub for global brands, the country stands out with its design capabilities and brand development potential, now at the center of a regional fashion movement.
Increasing Investments by Global Brands in Türkiye
The strategic choices of the Spanish fashion giant Mango highlight how appealing Türkiye has become. According to Mango CEO Toni Ruiz’s 2025 financial report, Türkiye is stated as the third-largest market in terms of sales volume following Spain and France. The company opened six new stores in Türkiye last year, achieved a 20% growth, and increased its workforce to 1,480. The 2026 goal is to further expand its presence in Türkiye by opening 10 new stores.
Ruiz emphasized, “In any case, Türkiye remains an important country for us in terms of production collaborations.” This shows Türkiye’s attractiveness persists despite geopolitical risks and disruptions in the global supply chain.
The International Exposure of Design Talent
Turkish designers’ visibility has strengthened through events like the Merter Moda 2025 Designers Competition which continues its mission of nurturing future fashion leaders by providing young talents recognition and support from industry professionals.
Events like the Turkish Fashion Fabrics Show in April 2025 have facilitated the direct involvement of international fashion institutions (e.g., IFA Paris) in the Turkish sector, deepening international collaboration in the fashion and textile industry.
Global Market Share of Turkish Textiles
A notable increase in Türkiye’s fashion exports has been observed. The Turkish fashion industry managed to increase its exports to the USA from $856 million in 2024 to $1 billion in 2025. This is not only significant in terms of volume but also marks an important positioning in global markets for Türkiye.
Industry Expectations: Digital and Sustainable Design
In 2025, the profile sought by fashion employers continued evolving. Designers and fashion professionals are now expected to demonstrate competence in areas like digital fluency, data analytics, e-commerce knowledge, and sustainability. Adapting to this shift in the Turkish sector has become critical for the success of international collaborations.
Strategies of Global Brands in Türkiye
While Mango’s investment budget for 2025 was announced as €225 million, the company reaffirmed its commitment to Türkiye despite global uncertainties. This indicates that products bearing the “Made in Türkiye” label are preferred not only for cost advantages but also for quality and stability factors.
2025 marked Türkiye’s shift towards creating more added value in the fashion and design sector, with international brands transitioning from production centers to support hubs. This trend is expected to continue in 2026 with deeper collaborations and increased visibility of Turkish designers on the global stage.
