Uludağ Apparel and Clothing Exporters' Association

Uludağ Apparel and Clothing Exporters' Association (UHKİB)

The apparel and ready-to-wear sector is one of the most important branches of industry in Türkiye, bearing a significant share of the country's employment due to its labor-intensive structure. The sector encompasses production units of all sizes, from small and medium-sized enterprises to large-scale manufacturing facilities, and represents a modern industry in which computer-aided production systems are rapidly developing and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices are widely adopted. The Turkish apparel and ready-to-wear industry is highly successful in the production of high value-added branded products in terms of quality, efficiency, original design, marketing, and distribution channels. Moreover, with its strong export performance, the sector is Türkiye's leading industry in generating a foreign trade surplus. Since the early 1980s, the driving force behind Türkiye's export-oriented growth has been the apparel and ready-to-wear sector, operating in close synergy with the Turkish textile industry.

The Uludağ Apparel and Ready-to-Wear Exporters' Association (UHKİB) was established in Bursa in 1986 under the umbrella of the Uludağ Exporters' Associations. As of the beginning of 2026, UHKİB has a total of 1,723 active members. In 2025, the Association's total exports amounted to USD 847 million. In the same year, the main destination countries for UHKİB exports were, respectively, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The sector meets the stringent material, production, quality, and health standards demanded by the European continent, one of the world's most demanding markets. A total of 74% of exports are destined for the European Union.

UHKİB's mission is to enhance the export performance of its members, support them in their international commercial activities, contribute to the development of bilateral and multilateral trade relations, and ensure the sustainable growth of exports across all markets. In line with the duties assigned to it by laws and regulations, UHKİB carries out numerous activities aimed at strengthening foreign trade and improving reciprocal economic relations with other countries.

Particular emphasis is placed on creating value-added exports through investments focused on sustainability and digitalization. Within the framework of the European Green Deal, integrating the sector into environmentally friendly production processes is one of the key priorities. Projects aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, the development of recyclable and innovative products, and the integration of Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence technologies into production processes are of critical importance in creating cost advantages, increasing production efficiency, and thereby enhancing global competitiveness. While the significance of initiatives required across all areas influenced by Industry 4.0—from the localization of digital technologies to the enhancement of workforce competencies, from education to corporate culture—is evident, the Digital Transformation Engineer Program implemented by UHKİB equips engineers with capabilities in key fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, augmented and virtual reality, and systems analysis

One of the most important factors shaping the future of the sector is investment in design and innovation. The objective is to position Türkiye as a trend-setting country in the textile and apparel industry. In line with this goal, greater emphasis is placed on increasing R&D and innovation investments and on developing design-oriented products.

In summary, UHKİB operates in the fields of public relations, training activities, consultancy services, coordination activities, publications, statistical records, economic research and reporting, as well as trade and buyer delegations and fairs.

The Uludağ Apparel and Ready-to-Wear Exporters' Association continues its efforts to meet the sector's demand for qualified personnel, to follow global trends in fashion and design while creating original trends, and to position Türkiye as an international center of attraction for fashion and design.