Everything You Need To Know About Istanbul's Textile Industry

Stuck in between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is renowned all over the world for its breathtaking mosques, rich history, and delightful cuisine. But those interested in fashion will surely know that this massive metropolis is also home to the largest textile hub in the country. According to Ahmet Öksüz, the President of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Association (İTHİB), Turkey is now the fifth largest textile exporter in the world (Daily News, 2023). Data released by the İTHİB shows how this country gets a 3.6% share of all global textile and raw materials exports, while also being the number one denim producer in the world (İTHİB, 2022). 

Textiles are one of Turkey's most lucrative export industries, with a share of 4.1% of the country’s total exports. Not by chance, in 2022 Turkey has managed to sell its textiles to 197 countries all over the world (Turkish Goods, 2023). “We are the second largest industry in the Turkish manufacturing sector in terms of production with a total production value of $82.4 billion, including the apparel sector,” declared Ahmet Öksüz (Daily News, 2023). But what about Istanbul? 

This massive metropolis plays a fundamental role in the Turkish textile industry. Data published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) shows how between 2019 and 2020, Istanbul was by far the leader in the country in terms of textile exports, earning a total of $70.1 billion in 2019 and $66.7 in 2020 (UNDP, 2021). But what made this city Turkey's main textile hub? 

Istanbul and Sustainability

One of the main reasons leading so many businesses around the world to choose Istanbul for their textiles is that this hub has invested plenty of resources in being as sustainable as possible. 

Back in July 2021, the İTHİB government decided to launch a Sustainability Action Plan under the leadership of the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM). In this regard, the President of the TİM declared: “Let us renew the old infrastructure of our factories, (...) expand the technologies that use less water in washing and dyeing, reduce the share of fossil fuels in production as much as possible. The greatest legacy we will leave to our children and future generations is a clean world and a clean atmosphere. This is a duty we all share,” (Textilegence, 2021).

The Sustainability Action Plan also focused on the production of organic cotton over common cotton, one of the least environmentally friendly textile materials in the world due to the high amount of water needed for its cultivation and production. The plan also incentivised the creation of financial resources to minimise the water and energy consumption involved in several textile manufacturing processes, such as dyeing operations. 

But why did Turkey suddenly decide to go green? One of the main reasons leading to the creation of the Sustainability Action Plan was the implementation of the EU's Green Deal. Signed in 2020, the main aim of this deal is for the EU to achieve climate neutrality by the year 2050. This had a massive impact on Turkey, as the EU remains the country’s main importer. The EU's Green Deal pushed Istanbul’s textile industries to opt for more efficient ways to use their energy to minimise waste. On top of this, the deal also focused on the circular economy and the implementation of sustainable raw materials, such as organic cotton. 

Since the signing of the EU’s Green Deal, sustainability has remained one of the main focuses for Istanbul’s textile industry. In this regard, Ahmet Öksüz stated: “As the Turkish textile industry, we continue our efforts in the field of sustainability at full speed and aim for a high level of compliance with the European Green Deal norms. We will always prioritise sustainability in our future competitions'' (E Textile Magazine, 2024).

However, despite the efforts, it’s important to remember that Turkey is still far away from the result achieved by other textile hubs such as Tiruppur, which throughout the years, have managed to become carbon-negative, meaning that the textile industry of this city is now actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The history of Istanbul’s textile industry

The history of Istanbul as an important textile hub starts in the mid-sixteenth century, during the Ottoman State when the first workshops to weave silk fabric were established in Istanbul. Even though the silk was produced in the city of Bursa, the waving processes all took place in what was known back then as Constantinople. Throughout the 18th century a series of initiatives were put in place to develop the local textile industry which had experienced a decline due to competition with imported products (Istanbultarihi. ist). 

As with many other sectors, it was only in the 20th century that production increased exponentially, thanks to the industrial revolution which led to the creation of modern machinery and manufacturing processes. It was also in these years that the cotton production in the country grew massively, quickly replacing silk. In the 80s, Turkey finally started to export its product to other countries slowly climbing the popularity ladder and becoming one of the biggest textile exports in the world. 

As we mentioned earlier, in recent years the textile industry of Istanbul has started to opt for greener politics and production techniques, also thanks to the implementation of the 2021 Sustainability Action Plan. Not by chance, the International Textile Machinery Exhibition of 2023 heavily focused on sustainability and showcased innovative technologies aiming at reducing CO2 emissions and water waste, while prioritising recycled materials (Knitting Industry, 2024).

Conclusion

Known for its high-quality silk production throughout the Ottoman Era, Istanbul remains to this day one of the most popular textile hubs in the world. Located in Turkey, a country contributing to a 3.6% share of all global textile and raw materials exports, Istanbul’s textile industry made $66.7 billion in 2020 alone. While compared to other textile hubs such as Tiruppur in India, this city still has to level up its sustainability laws, the need to comply with the rigid EU rules ensures that Turkey's textile industry will continue to invest in eco-friendly techniques and practices in the years to come.