HOMETEX, one of the largest and most prestigious international meetings of the home textile sector, opened its doors at the Istanbul Expo Center. Organized under the leadership of the Turkish Home Textile Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TETSİAD) and organized by KFA Fair Organization, the fair brought together the global players of the sector.
This year, HOMETEX, which was held in 11 halls and a total area of 200 thousand square meters, hosts the innovative collections and high-tech products of nearly 700 companies. The opening ceremony of the fair was attended by Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat, Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) President Mustafa Gültepe, Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) and KFA Fair Organization Board of Directors President İbrahim Burkay, TETSİAD President Hasan Hüseyin Bayram, as well as many members of parliament, chamber and stock exchange presidents, exporter union presidents and sector representatives.
Türkiye Turned Into a Fair Center
Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat stated that the HOMETEX 2025 Fair revealed the point Türkiye has reached in fair organization. Bolat stated that HOMETEX, which has been organized for 32 years, was held in 200 halls on an area of 11 thousand square meters. Minister Bolat said, “There were well-known home textile fairs in Europe, but now Turkey has become the center of fair organization. Our clothing, textile, ceramic, jewelry, furniture and carpet fairs have become world brands in themselves. This is the best summary of where Türkiye has come from.”
Target for Home Textile Exports is 3 Billion Dollars
Ömer Bolat stated that Türkiye ranks fourth in the world and third among suppliers to the European Union in home textiles. Ömer Bolat stated that Türkiye's home textile sector exports approached 2024 billion dollars in 2,9, and that in the first four months of 2025, home textile exports increased by 2,1% to reach 950 million dollars, and that they aim to complete this year in the range of approximately 3 billion dollars.
“A Success Not to Be Underestimated”
Minister of Trade Bolat said that the textile and ready-to-wear sector has a total export of 32,1 billion dollars, including carpets, and this figure has reached 34,8 billion dollars with other sub-sectors. Bolat stated that the Turkish economy continues to grow despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the February 6 earthquakes, and that inflation has dropped to the mid-thirties and that they aim to see figures in the twenties by the end of the year. Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat said, “Thank God, our industry and economy continued the growth process. Last month, in March, a noticeable increase was achieved in our industry both monthly and annually. Today, the increase in the consumer confidence index was announced and our exports increased by 3,9 percent in the first four months. Both our goods exports and services exports are 7 percent. This is a success that should not be underestimated despite the current state of the world.”
Support for Exporters is Increasing
Minister Bolat, who stated that the unemployment rate had fallen to 7,9 percent, the lowest level in the last twenty years, and employment had risen to 32,6 million, emphasized the importance of support provided to exporters. Ömer Bolat said that Eximbank resources had been increased, Türkbank had become operational, and guarantee opportunities had been expanded with the Export Development Company (IGE) established by exporter unions.
Bolat, who stated that the Ministry of Trade implemented an export support strategy consisting of 77 items, said that last year, 24,5 billion liras of grant support was given and this year, they will give at least 33 billion liras of grant support to exporters. He added that they also provide grant support to companies that receive training and consultancy services for green transformation within the scope of compliance with the European Green Transformation.
“This Fair Did Not Come Here Easily”
BTSO and KFA Board Chairman İbrahim Burkay stated that HOMETEX Fair is one of the largest meeting centers in the world in terms of square meters and participants. He stated that the fair, where the concept of sustainability is embodied, shows how important the design power of the sector representatives is, not only producing and selling, but also determining fashion, trends and trends.
İbrahim Burkay, who stated that “This fair did not come here easily,” continued as follows: “A journey that started with the participation of a few companies in a hotel hall has become one of the biggest gatherings in the world today. Sustainability has taken on flesh and blood here. Our sector representatives have become global actors who determine fashion, trends and design.”
Burkay said that they hosted over 175 thousand visitors last year and this year their target was much higher. He emphasized that Türkiye's commercial diplomacy has achieved great success in the last 10 years and that the vision and leadership demonstrated by the Ministry of Trade has paved the way for sectors.
One of the Sectors with the Highest Added Value
Burkay, who drew attention to the fact that the home textile sector, which Türkiye exports to more than 190 countries, also provides high added value to the country's economy in terms of export value per kilogram, said, "Although the home textile sector is not seen as a technology-intensive field, it contains design, brand, quality and innovation. With an export value of over 8 dollars per kilogram, we are one of the highest value-added sectors in Türkiye."
New Era Begins with KFA
Burkay also touched upon the organizational success of the fair and stated that HOMETEX has become a global brand thanks to the vision developed with KFA Fair Organization, which took over the management of the fair four years ago. President Burkay said, “KFA Fair Organization successfully carried the responsibility it took on during a difficult period. Today, it has become one of the strongest fair brands in Türkiye. Soon, the world's largest fairs in their fields, such as IDEF in the defense industry and our freight engineering fair LESEXPO, will be held in Istanbul with the organization of KFA Fair Organization.” BTSO Chairman of the Board of Directors İbrahim Burkay stated that preparations are ongoing for the international defense industry fair IDEF, which will be held in three different locations in July under the coordination of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and the Presidency of Defense Industries. President Burkay concluded his speech with the words, “Our strategic priority is to be able to bring what we produce together with the world and transform it into value.”
“We are in a respected position in the world market”
TETSİAD President Hasan Hüseyin Bayram said that the HOMETEX Fair has become one of the most important fairs in the world in its 32-year adventure. Bayram emphasized that the Turkish home textile sector has reached a respected position in world markets by combining its historical heritage with contemporary production capabilities and that the "Made in Türkiye" label has become a symbol of quality and trust.
Bayram stated that as TETSİAD, apart from being a classical non-governmental organization, they have adopted the mission of being an institution that keeps up with innovations and closely follows technological developments.
Bayram announced that they aim to eliminate borders and offer their products to target audiences 7/24 with the digital platform they developed within this scope, hometex. Reminding that the European Union has stipulated that the carbon footprint of all imported products, primarily textiles, must be measured as of January 1, 2026 and that a carbon tax must be levied for each ton released into the environment, Hasan Hüseyin Bayram emphasized that countries such as Turkey that trade with the EU must quickly make the necessary arrangements.
Targeting Double-Digit Growth in Exports
TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe stated that Türkiye had to grow with production and exports and that they had to increase employment in this way. Stating that a 4 percent increase was achieved in exports in the first 4 months, but that this was not enough and that they had to achieve an increase of over 7 percent, Gültepe reminded that Türkiye had a target of 2028 billion dollars in goods exports and 375 billion dollars in services exports in 200. TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe said that if there was a little more improvement in economic policies regarding competitiveness, they would easily reach double-digit export growth. Following the speeches, BTSO Chairman İbrahim Burkay and TETSİAD Chairman Hasan Hüseyin Bayram presented gifts to Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat. Protocol members visited the companies that had opened stands after the opening ceremony.
Doors are opening for new collaborations
Chain stores, retail giants, hotel and project groups, architects and interior designers, designers and international buyers from home and abroad are expected to come together at HOMETEX and sign partnerships that will shape the sector. The purchasing delegations held within the scope of the fair also offer new export and partnership opportunities to companies. Potential buyers from many countries, especially France, Italy, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Spain, the USA and the Turkic Republics, are attending the fair this year.
