The "Sustainability and Circular Fashion in Textiles and Ready-to-Wear" panel, organized by the Sustainability and Circular Fashion Committee of the Fashion and Ready-to-Wear Federation (MHGF), was held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Faculty of Textile Technologies and Design, Gümüşsuyu Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan Campus. The event brought together academics, industry representatives, and experts working in the field of sustainable fashion.
Before the panel, participants visited the İTÜ Universal Textile Design Center at 12:30 PM to learn about the innovative projects and sustainable textile practices being carried out at the center. This was followed by a refreshments and networking session from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM.
The opening speeches, which started at 2:00 PM, were delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Textile Technologies and Design, Prof. Dr. Nevin Çiğdem Gürsoy, the Chairman of the MHGF Sustainability and Circular Fashion Committee, Ayhan Seyfeli, and the Chairman of the MHGF Board of Directors, Hüseyin Öztürk. They shared their views on the challenges faced in the transition of the textile industry to circularity and their expectations for the future.
The main panel session was moderated by MHGF Board Member Mukaddes Başkaya, where leading experts in sustainability in the textile and fashion sectors shared their experiences. Prof. Dr. Başak Turan İçke, a faculty member at Istanbul University, discussed the academic perspective of sustainable fashion, while Begüm Doğru Öztekin, Founder and CEO of Refabric, provided insights into business models focused on recycling. Gülşah Belirgen, Sustainability, Quality, and Supply Reporting Director at Koton, explained major brands' sustainability policies, and Melike Kader, Sustainability Manager at Sun Tekstil, spoke about efforts to reduce environmental impact in production. Umut Tahmaz, Technical Aesthetics Design Impact and Intelligence Manager at LC Waikiki, highlighted circular economy applications in fashion design.
Participants had the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences on the importance of sustainability in the textile and fashion industry, reducing environmental impacts, and innovative solutions. The panel concluded as a productive event where significant ideas about the future of the sector were shared.
