The Turkish home textile industry as a sub-sector of the huge Turkish textile industry wich has a dominant role in the world has experienced significant progress in the last decade and met the high standards of the EU. The power of Turkish home textile industry results from huge textile industry in Turkey. Turkey has already invested heavily in its textile sectors, especially in its spinning sector, in recentyears. Turkey was the world’s largest single investor in open end rotors and the second for short staple ring spindles in 1997. In recent years the production of home textiles has shown a steady increase due to the rise in both domestic and external demand for home textiles.

Almost all kinds of home textiles are produced in Turkey. These may be listed by export value as follows: Table linens, towels, voiles, curtains, laces, blankets, cushions, pillows, quilts, eiderdowns.

The Turkish home textile industry is well on the way to becoming one of the world leaders by its wide range of products and superior quality in home textile prıduction, especially in the production of net curtains, embroidery, guipure, towels, and quilt covers. Turkey has the largest machine park for the production of both embroidery and guipuer in the world. In Europe, the largest factory producing quilt covers is in Turkey. The Turkish home textile industry has also acquired the latest technology with a high production capacity and a highly skilled labor pool. In addition, the industry has managed to reduce the cost of production below the world average ehile it has increased its quality of products. So, with a huge production capacity, high quality and strong competitiveness, Turkey is among the top three suppliers of curtains and enbroidery in Europe and among the top three suppliers of towels in the world. In Turkey, the towel sector has traditional roots and its towels are known as “Turkish Towels” worldwide. Today, the Turkish towel sector has competitiveness in international markets in terms of jacquard and embroidery technologies. In addition, lace which is commonly used in many textile applications, especially in home textiles, is originally a Turkish handicraft. It is an embroidery art reaching back to the mid-1500s and crowned by the labour of Turkish women. It is an outstanding handicraft with its traditional taste and motifs in different colors and lineswhich are now reflected in modern home decoration.

Today, the Turkish home textile industry is aware of the trend in international markets towards the increasing demand for healthier and more environmentally-friendly products and tries to adapt itself to developments within legal and technical regulations. Many manufacturers in the sector managed to produce in the environmental management systems and in the quality management systems, e.g. ISO 9000 series. About 150 companies in the textile sector have ISO 9001 or 9002 certificates, 30 of wich are in the home textile field. Additionally, some companies in the home textile sector have private eco lables.

Turkish home textile producers are mainly located in Istanbul, Denizli, Bursa, Izmir, Gaziantep, Kayseri and Ushak. Towel and bathrobe producers in Ushak. Many of the producers in these cities have integrated their production process from yarn and fabric production to product design, dying, finishing and sewing in order to obtain the best quality in any step of the production.

In a rapidly changing world, the home decoration field is very sensitive to all changes.That’s why the creation field is very sensitive to all changes. That’s why the creation of innovative and modern designs and motifs in addition to the quality of the product is very essential. Turkish home textile manufacturers are very conscious abut fashion creation and design which enables them to gain a special place in international markets. Creative and modern designs and unique motifs, all created by Turkish designers, keep the pulse of world home decoration fashion and meet all tastes and preferences.

EXPORTS

Besides meeting domestic demand in Turkey, the Turkish home textile sector with its high potential in the export market and its wide range of products and superior quality, is an important export earner for the country.

The home textile sector with an export value of 810 million dollars and a 3% share in Turkey's total exports in 1998 has been an important sub-sector for the Turkish economy. In 1998, the sector exported about %57 of production.

With its high grade products, the technology of production and quality of workmanship, Turkey has started to increase her share in the main markets, especially in the European market. Therefore, prominent world suppliers have started to cooperate with Turkish manufacturers in joint production in the home textile field. Now, Turkey's main targets in the world home textile market are to exceed a share of 15% and to increase the existing number of Turkish brands.

The European countries are the most important markets for Turkey's home textile exports. A large quantity of home textiles is exported to Germany. The other main markets are the USA, the U.K., France and the Netherlands. New markets such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, the Russian Federation and the other Commonwealth of Independent States are emerging.