The final of the sixth Doku Fabric Design Competition, organised by the Southeastern Anatolia Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (GATHİB) with support from the Ministry of Trade and coordination by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), took place in Gaziantep. According to a Dünya Gazetesi report dated 26 October 2026, 60 designs by 30 university students were shown on the night and the winners received their awards.
Speaking at the ceremony and to journalists afterwards, Mete Akcan, coordinating chair of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters’ Associations (GAİB), argued that global textile competition is no longer decided only by production capacity and price. Design, innovation and sustainability, he said, are becoming increasingly important.
What the competition offered
Entrants competed in three categories: woven, knitted and printed fabric design. Prize money totalled TRY 2.95 million:
- In each category the winner received TRY 400,000, second place TRY 300,000 and third place TRY 200,000.
- A Special Sustainability Award of TRY 250,000 was also presented.
- Category winners may study abroad for one year, subject to Ministry of Trade approval and the relevant regulations.
- Prize-winners will receive support for international promotion and the chance to visit textile and fashion fairs abroad selected by GATHİB.
Akcan said the competition connects young designers’ ideas with the industry’s production capabilities and helps turn them into economic value.
Exports, costs and lead times
Akcan described a chain of pressure in the domestic market, affecting both production and payment collection, which has pushed companies towards exports. Some firms, he noted, have raised the export share of their business to 50% in certain months.
He identified garment making as the segment under the most strain, with high labour costs creating a competitive disadvantage and some production shifting to Egypt on cost grounds. At the same time, he stressed that Türkiye remains a reliable, quality-focused supplier. As an example, he said a customer in Bursa can source yarn from his company within two days, turn it into finished garments and deliver to Europe in roughly 20 to 25 days, something he said China cannot match.
What it means for brands and suppliers
According to Akcan, cost control means neither countries nor companies want to carry large inventories. European buyers in particular are asking for what they need now and having the rest shipped later to avoid stock costs. For sourcing teams working with Turkish suppliers, that points to:
- smaller, faster and split shipments becoming the norm,
- short yarn-to-garment lead times being used as a real competitive advantage,
- differentiation beyond price, especially original design and a sustainability focus, carrying more weight in export markets.
Akcan also noted that exports to Egypt have grown and that Turkish firms operating there still source their inputs from Türkiye, but said every production line that leaves the country because of costs is a loss. He added that garment production can readily be carried out in nearby countries and that large companies have been opening facilities in the region.
This article was summarised and commented on by the LTS Frekans editorial team, drawing on the source article.
