Interview with Cem Negrin

Cem Negrin
Cem Negrin
Chairman
TGSD
TGSD
Certain domestic brands are positioning themselves as regional players.
With Fibre2Fashion Correspondent Cindrella Thawani, Cem Negrin shares his views about Turkish apparel and textile market segment. Synopsis: Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association (TGSD), founded in 1976, with an aim to create the necessary environment for the growth of clothing and textile industry of Turkey. Its mission is to transform the global financial crisis into an opportunity for new business initiations, meanwhile repositioning Turkish apparel industry as a global brand. At present, TGSD has approximately 400 members, all of which are leaders in the Turkish apparel industry. Cem Negrin serves as the Chairman of Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association (TGSD). Moreover, he is the owner and Chairman of Negreti Tekstil. Furthermore, he is graduated from the Bosphrous University from Istanbul. Excerpts:

It is considered that global recession in Turkey is over since 2010. Moreover, please interpret about the present demand trends and supply?

Turkish economy is facing two risks, which is inflation and next is huge current account balance deficit. For managing the two risks, Central Bank is implementing tight monetary policy. Due to that monetary policy, general household domestic demand is being curbed and present demand trend for clothing expenditure has slowed down and become stable.

What kind of opportunities do you see with internet retailing and sales? How it is changing the shopping scenario?

Internet retailing and sales in clothing sector is in the rapid growth phase. For the end of 2012, TCMS estimates that internet retailing and sales share would reach 10 percent in total clothing expenditures by 2.8 billion volumes. It seems that, internet retailing and sales have large growth opportunities. However, competition is rising in internet business and consolidation seems in the horizon for the companies.

What is the market size of textile and apparel industry in Turkey and how brands are sprouting there?

In production side, textile market size is estimated 12 billion dollars and apparel market size estimated 26 billion dollars by producer’s price. Apparel retail market is approximately 28 billion dollar by consumer’s price. Moreover, many companies and brands are dominating the markets.

Domestic brands are doing dynamic businesses. How much it will be competitive for the international players for its pleasant existence in your region?

Certain domestic brands are positioning themselves as regional players. These certain brands offer cooperation and enlarging opportunities for international players. In addition to that certain brands also offer huge growth potentiality in company and brand value. To benefit from such prospective, international investors prefer the acquisitions in recently.

How vibrant is the growth of Turkish apparel and retail market? What is your forecast for this?

Turkish apparel and retail market growth has slowdown in 2012. Moreover, we estimate market growth rate as 10 percent (in nominal and Turkish Lira term). Besides, retail market growth rate is approximately “zero percent” in real term and US Dollar term.

How is TGSD helpful to the textile and apparel industry of Turkey? Besides, please conclude about your further moves/plans

TGSD is monitoring this industry, by and large globally as well as informing industry about the development. In addition to that TGSD evaluates the competitiveness of sector periodically and develop the proposals, which are offered to the public authorities.

How do see the performance for women’s clothing vs. men’s clothing segment?

Women’s clothing segment performance is over men’s clothing segment as usually. However, both women’s and men’s clothing segment performance is weakening.
Published on: 03/10/2012

DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.