The measures taken against the coronavirus outbreak are constantly increasing. Following the transportation restrictions, curfew was imposed over 65 and under 20. In this process, shopping malls were closed, the large-scale halt experienced in the retail leg quickly found its response in production. Singularly, several textile manufacturers announced that they halted production for a certain period of time. On April 8, the Fashion and Apparel Federation (MHGF) decided to recommend the manufacturers to halt production until the end of April by a majority decision as a result of the meeting held with the chairmen of the member associations.
MHGF Chairman Hüseyin Öztürk made a written statement on the decision, and reminded that the federation represented 30 sectoral associations and 9 thousand 300 companies from Turkey’s textile, ready-to-wear, fashion, leather, leather garment and footwear industries. Öztürk emphasized that they support the social isolation warnings of the Coronavirus Scientific Board, headed by the Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ‘stay at home’ call. Öztürk stated that they decided to recommend production halt until the end of April as MHGF due to the Covid-19 outbreak that affected the world starting from China. Öztürk announced that this decision was taken at the teleconference held with the chairmen of the member association and with the approval of the majority.
We must be ready for the aftermath of the outbreak!
Noting that the buyers (suppliers) and chain stores in the domestic and foreign markets are closed due to the outbreak; Hüseyin Öztürk stated that the number of Covid-19 cases peaked in Europe; which is the largest market in the sector, and is expected to decrease. Öztürk; “When these markets open and return to normal in the coming period; it is very important that we are simultaneously ready. This will only be possible by applying social isolation and preventing the spread of the virus”.
Arguing that part-time and piecemeal work applied by some companies is not efficient at the cost-benefit point; Öztürk continued as follows; “Apart from our workshops and factories; which support the healthcare organization with products such as masks, overalls, and gauze or have to fulfil orders from abroad as required by the contract; we are recommending our producers in textile, ready-to-wear, fashion, leather, leather garments and footwear; to halt their production until the end of April”.
Textile and ready-to-wear should be declared as a ‘strategic sector’
Hüseyin Öztürk stated that textile and ready-to-wear are of vital importance as seen in these days. Öztürk; “We are the leading sector in the production, employment and export of our country. We have a structure that brought the export culture in Turkey; acting by its own capital, and that produce the most foreign trade. In addition, there is no other sector that provides employment for 1 person with an investment of one thousand dollars. With a billion dollar investment in the ready-to-wear industry, 1 million people can be provided with jobs.
Apart from fashion and daily use, medical textiles play a serious role for our health as do today; while we offer solutions for the world of today and the future with technical textiles. When we put all this out, we think that textile and ready-to-wear should be declared a strategic sector”.
Pointing out that the ready-to-wear industry is SME-dominant; Öztürk added that national and global store chains should support the producers in this period; when the outbreak is effective.