The seventh edition of IFCO, Istanbul Fashion Connection took place from February 5 to 8, 2025, attracting 33,788 visitors and 514 exhibitors from 151 countries. Hosted at the Istanbul Expo Centre, the event showcased a diverse range of fashion categories across eight halls, reinforcing Turkiye’s growing influence in the global fashion industry. The largest international visitor groups came from the Middle East (32.5 per cent), Asia (25.1 per cent), Europe (23.1 per cent), and North Africa (14.6 per cent).
Global platform for fashion and business
Turkiye, the world’s sixth-largest apparel supplier and the third-largest in the EU, aims to transition from a manufacturing hub to a global fashion leader. Mustafa Gultepe, President of TIM & IHKIB, emphasized the country’s strengths in design, branding, and technology, noting that Turkish brands now operate over 3,000 stores in more than 100 countries. IFCO plays a key role in this vision, establishing Istanbul as a major fashion hub in Europe.
The event provided a global networking platform, bringing together international buyers and fashion leaders. Major participants included brands from the USA, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, and the Middle East, leveraging IFCO’s B2B meetings and trade connections to expand their market reach.
Showcasing diverse fashion categories
Spanning 35,000 square meters, IFCO featured key segments such as womenswear, menswear, kidswear, denim, sportswear, evening and wedding wear, lingerie, hosiery, leather garments, shoes, and accessories. TheCore Istanbul, a key highlight of the event, provided a dedicated space for over 25 designers to present their collections. Notable participants included Maison Kaisros, Alaii, Syga, Denim Heads, Tuba Ergin, Eynaco, Bianco E Nero, and Mirimalist. Designers reported strong buyer engagement, with many securing new business deals.
The IFCO Brands section featured major market players like Jakamen, Sabri Ozel, Jimmy Key, NCS, Kayra, Armine, Rojbey, and Kigılı, all of whom showcased their latest collections in individually designed store-like booths. The IFCO Kids section expanded significantly, doubling in size with 40 manufacturers in Hall 8. The LinExpo lingerie and hosiery segment occupied two halls, while FashionIST highlighted high-end eveningwear.
High-profile buyers and industry insights
IFCO 2025 saw a 5.3 per cent increase in international visitors compared to last year, with 42.1 per cent of attendees coming from abroad. Prominent buyers included John Lewis, J.P. Boden & Co (UK), Monsoon Brand Ltd (UK), Nicoli Network (Spain), Aeon Co (Malaysia), Ariat (USA), Aritzia (Canada), and Groupe Vanessa Bruno (France). The event’s structured B2B meetings facilitated direct business discussions and partnership opportunities.
The IFCO Trend Area, designed in collaboration with the Fashion Designers Association (MTD), focused on ‘Mindscape,’ a theme blending science, digital innovation, and sustainability. The Istanbul Fashion Academy (IMA) highlighted how modern technology and traditional knowledge drive eco-conscious fashion. Industry seminars covered key topics, including Spring/Summer 2026 trends from WGSN, the role of AI in fashion marketing, and the impact of digitalization on apparel design.
Sustainability and digital transformation at the core
Turkiye’s fashion industry has been at the forefront of digitalization and sustainability, aligning with global standards even before the EU’s Green Deal. Mustafa Paşahan, Vice President of IHKIB and IFCO Fair Executive Committee President, emphasized the industry's investments in sustainable production and digital advancements. IHKIB continues to lead Turkiye’s efforts in integrating EU-supported programs to drive this transformation.
Since its launch, IFCO has hosted 2,552 exhibitors and 153,000 visitors across 160,533 square meters. The event has rapidly established itself as Europe’s largest fashion fair. The upcoming eighth edition of IFCO is scheduled for August 20-22, 2025, promising another impactful showcase of Turkiye’s fashion industry.
