Winners Announced for the İTHİB Futuretex Istanbul Fabric Design Competition
The winners of the Futuretex Istanbul Fabric Design Competition have been announced. Organized by the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Association (ITHIB) for 19 years, the competition revealed that participants deemed suitable by the Ministry of Commerce will have the opportunity for overseas education. Mustafa Gültepe, Chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), noted the significant potential in the textile and ready-to-wear sectors, stating, "Turkey is already a brand country in these two sectors. It’s time for us to build ‘Turkey, the country of brands’." Ahmet Öksüz, Chairman of ITHIB, emphasized their support for young talents, inspired by Turkey's goal of increasing value-added exports through the Futuretex Istanbul Fabric Design Competition, stating, "Our greatest motivation in the competition we've organized for 19 years is to ensure the design branding of world-famous Turkish fabrics."
In the competition, Aslı Aslan emerged as the winner, followed by Seher Yıldırım in second place and Seda Nur Canbolat in third. Leyla Tadzhibaeva received the special jury award.
Among the attendees of the final night were Mustafa Gültepe, TIM Chairman; Ahmet Öksüz, ITHIB Chairman; Güven Karaca, Chairman of the Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters Association (IDMIB); Ahmet Hayri Diler, Chairman of the Istanbul Carpet Exporters Association (IHIB); Kazım Taycı, Chairman of the Istanbul Grain Pulse Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association (IHBIR); and over 600 other guests.
IT IS TIME TO BUILD TURKEY, THE COUNTRY OF BRANDS
Stressing that design is one of the key concepts for everyone involved in production and exports, TIM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated, "There are several ways to add value to production and exports. We can utilize high technology, develop innovative products, create brands, and produce sustainable products. All of these enhance the product's value. Design is one of those levers that add value to a product, often multiplying it. Perhaps most importantly, our textile industry is doing significant work in enhancing design power. With Futuretex, which has become a tradition, new young talents are introduced to the industry every year. Out of the 332 design centers in Turkey, 53 are within the textile sector. This data alone is enough to illustrate the importance of design in textiles. In those centers, the future of the industry is being meticulously woven like a rare fabric. I know we have great potential in the textile and ready-to-wear sectors. Turkey is already a brand country in these two sectors. It’s time for us to build ‘Turkey, the country of brands’. We must open doors for our knowledgeable and equipped youth and provide opportunities for them."
OUR DESIGNERS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL
Ahmet Öksüz, Chairman of ITHIB, noted that their main motivation for the competition over 19 years has been "to ensure the branding of world-famous Turkish fabrics through design." Speaking at the awards ceremony attended by over 600 guests, he stated, “Our aim with this competition is to encourage our young designers, representatives of change at every stage touched by design, and to spark the branding of our fabrics on an international level. Our finalists from Turkey and various parts of the world not only showcase their fabric knowledge and skills but also blend different cultures, thoughts, and aesthetic understandings through the power of their designs. Our awarded finalists will become important symbols of the values they will contribute to the design world."
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION ABROAD
Fatih Bilici, Vice Chairman of ITHIB and Head of the Fairs Committee, served as the Jury President for the competition, with Coach Özlem Süer leading the jury members, which included Kemal Özhaseki, Nejdet Ayaydın, Filiz Tunca, Neslişah Yılmaz, Ahmet Altınöz, Nesrin Türkmen, Elif Ergu Demiral, and Amor Garibovic.
The winner of the Futuretex Istanbul Fabric Design Competition received a monetary award of 200,000 TL, the second place received 150,000 TL, and the third place received 100,000 TL, while one participant determined by the jury received a special honor award of 60,000 TL. It was announced that participants deemed suitable by the Ministry of Commerce will receive the opportunity for overseas education. The top three finalists will also have access to six months of foreign language training, a visit to an international fair designated by ITHIB, and scholarship opportunities for all finalists at the Istanbul Fashion Academy. As was the case last year, this year, a participant receiving the special jury award in ‘Futuretex Istanbul’, where Özlem Süer served as the coach, was presented with the ‘İpekyol Special Award.’