E-Commerce to Gain Greater Importance After the Pandemic

Bordo Grubu Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Fahri Şahin made assessments on the current situation of the Turkish textile sector, which is facing difficulties due to coronavirus (COVID-19). Stating that "e-commerce is a lifeline for the sector," Şahin said, "Without e-commerce, it would be very difficult to keep the sector afloat." Regarding the matter, Şahin said: "Textile and fashion products are among the most sold products through e-commerce. For this reason, coronavirus has once again highlighted the importance of online retail sales. It is clear that textile and ready-to-wear companies will place greater emphasis on e-commerce after coronavirus. Because companies without online sales began to face major difficulties during the coronavirus period. COVID-19 has once again demonstrated the importance of natural antibacterial products. Textile raw materials with natural antibacterial properties, such as bamboo, wool, linen and cotton, have gained greater importance. After coronavirus, these products with natural antibacterial properties will increase their importance even further. Our textile industrialists and consumers should consider this matter with an environmentally friendly approach.

Products with healthy and natural textile fibers such as bamboo, wool, linen and cotton will be preferred over textile products made through chemical processes," he said.

Şahin continued his remarks: "The fashion sector will learn from this epidemic and begin to think in a more environmentally conscious and careful manner. Consumers will also prefer antibacterial products. For this reason, companies will be forced to focus on organic, recyclable and sustainable products," he said. Fahri Şahin underscored that Turkey's exports of ready-to-wear, textile and leather products amount to approximately USD 30 billion. Expressing that Turkey holds an advantageous position compared to China, which has textile exports ten times this amount, Şahin said: "Turkey is in an advantageous position against textile giant China due to its proximity to Europe, its potential for rapid production and product preparation. Markets lost by China, where coronavirus began to spread, are turning toward Turkey. Our branded products in the textile, ready-to-wear and fashion sectors have begun to be preferred more in the European market due to the coronavirus effect. This situation creates a major advantage for our textile industrialists," he said. Emphasizing that growing demand from markets turning cold to Chinese products will continue to have a positive effect on Turkey's textile exports, Şahin said, "Demand for Turkish textiles and our ready-to-wear products is increasingly rising. The market contraction in Chinese textile products has created an opportunity for us. Countries moving away from Chinese products are coming to Turkey. The production and demand for textile raw materials and products unique to us, such as Turkish cotton, is increasingly growing," he said. Fahri Şahin emphasized that approximately USD 2 billion in new orders for the textile sector are expected for Turkey and that they have sufficient capacity to meet the new orders coming from and to come from Europe. Şahin said, "Turkey will receive great interest after the pandemic. Turkey needs to make good use of this opportunity. The price, quality and time formula must be solved correctly. Thus, European countries must be convinced that Turkey is the best alternative to China," he said.