Libyan customers prefer quality clothing despite not being the richest in the region. The assessment was made by Esref Geyik, Chairman of TIGSAD, the Turkish Underwear Manufacturers Association. Geyik is also the owner of a leading clothes manufacturer, Elsim.
Geyik was speaking exclusively to Libya Herald at yesterday’s opening of the 3rd edition of the Turkish Fashion and Ready-to-Wear Exhibition held being held at the Tripoli International Fairgrounds 9 to 11 January. The fair is exhibiting clothing for women, men, and children by 23 Turkish manufacturers.
The TIGSAD chairman said the previous two editions of the exhibition were held in 2014, where 40 companies exhibited, and in 2023 where 24 companies participated. He said the exhibition is considering holding an event in Benghazi in August this year.
Geyik said there are good trade and cultural relations between Turkey and Libya. Libyans like high quality despite not being as rich as other regional countries. He said Libyan customers’ like for quality clothing makes Libya an important market for Turkey and his company which produces quality products.
He put the appreciation of quality clothing to the Italian influence and the proximity to Europe. In some products, he went so far as to say the Libyan market has surpassed the European market.
He said he already has 210 merchants selling his products all over Libya, including Benghazi, Tripoli, and Misrata. Despite this he said he continues to exhibit in Libya to show new trends and new materials.
On the Libyan market, he said Libya is in the top 5 destinations for Turkish clothing exports. He said sales continue to grow annually, and they would increase further if there was continuous stability in Libya.
