TGSD Introduction
Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association (TGSD) has been founded in 1976 with the purpose of preparing the environment necessary for the development of clothing industry in Turkey, becoming a leader for the sector, promoting the sector abroad and achieving sectoral cooperation. Currently, TGSD has approximately 400 members, all of which are leaders in the Turkish apparel industry. TGSD has become an “Association for Public Benefit” with a Government Decree.
17th Board presided by Cem Negrin is formed of 24 members. General Secretary office working with Director General Mehmet Kumbaraci ensures that the decisions taken by the board are applied. There are Foreign Relations and Research Department, Accountancy Department, Department of Relations with Members, Public Relations Department and Information Technology Department within the structure of the association. Also it directs the sector by conducting works for short, middle and long term targets of the sector with various working groups.
Since its foundation TGSD has been conducting many activities for development and progress of apparel and textile sectors, carrying out international lobbying for the sector to be on top ranks in the world platform, developing solutions for problems and working for apparel manufacturing to proceed from being subcontractor to own brand while it has aims to make Anatolia the production centre and Istanbul one of the most important fashion centres
Parallel to the importance placed on educating young people who are the future of the sector and the country, TGSD develops projects for cooperation with intermediate and higher education institutions and organizes seminars and work shops for vocational training and development.
TGSD continues its presence in the Turkish clothing sector by successful representation abroad in international organizations. TGSD became a member of International Apparel Federation, IAF in 1988. TGSD took its place in the IAF Board in 1990; Hasan Arat became the IAF president in 1996, followed by Umut Oran in 2003. 12th and 19th IAF World Apparel Conventions were organized by TGSD and held in Istanbul.
TGSD became a full member of EURATEX, European Textile and Apparel Federation which brings the European textile and clothing industries together under a single roof, on 6 June 1997. This membership has enabled Turkish clothing industrialists’ rights to be discussed on the same table as European industrialists and has completed the integration process with European Economic Cooperation.
TGSD is an active member of the Consultation Board of textile and fashion design faculties of our universities and KALDER.In TGSD’s HORIZON 2015 project, domestic market development; for example fast development process of organized retail trade is being discussed and also surrounding countries, North European countries, marketing depth of which has not been examined yet, and other potential active marketing enterprises are included in our project.
The Turkish Clothing Manufacturers’ Association (TGSD), a leading NGO of the industry, organised its first international conference titled , “Istanbul Fashion, Textile and Apparel Conference and Exhibition” with the theme of “Bridges of Fashion, where design and production meet” on June 26-27th, 2008, in Istanbul, Turkey. 3rd Fashion, Textile and Apparel Conference and Exhibition was held at Hilton Convention center between 06 – 07 May 2010. In 2011, we celebrate the 35.th Aniversary of TGSD . Consequently, the fourth conference will be enriched and more colourful and to be held on May 2011 in Istanbul.
