One of the most significant gatherings of the baby and children’s apparel industry in Turkey, the Junioshow Fair hosted visitors between November 14–16. The event, held at the Bursa International Fair Center, was visited by more than 1,000 foreign buyers from 50 countries. Over 70 companies presented their collections that set the 2024–2025 baby and children’s fashion trends.
As part of BTSO’s Commercial Safari Project and the efforts of KFA Fuarcılık, purchasing managers from world-renowned brands came together with companies at the fair. In addition to international buying delegations, hundreds of domestic visitors also attended, bringing the industry together under one roof. Supported by the Ministry of Trade, the B2B organization within the scope of the Baby and Children’s Apparel UR-GE Project enabled companies to sign numerous new agreements with foreign businesspeople.
BTSO Vice Chairman of the Board, İsmail Kuş, emphasized that Junioshow plays a pioneering role in opening the baby and children’s apparel sector to the world and provides significant strength to companies:
“Despite the challenges in the economy, we brought together over 1,000 buyers with our companies in Bursa. It was an excellent event that allowed the sector to take a breath during a difficult time. We hosted a qualified portfolio of buyers especially from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Russia. Our goal is to host even more buyers and customers in Bursa in the upcoming period.”
Highlighting the fair’s new date and concept, İsmail Kuş added:
“As of 2024, the fair will be held once a year, where companies will showcase both summer and winter collections. Thanks to the new schedule, companies will be able to receive direct orders, finalize production on time, and deliver to customers without incurring high stock costs. This fair will continue to support the growth of our exports.”
BEKSİAD President Ömer Yıldız expressed that the fair raised hope and excitement for the industry’s future:
“Bursa holds an important place in baby and children’s apparel. We strive to sell most of our production directly to our customers under our own labels and designs. The export journey we began with BTSO eight years ago has reached an important point. Through fairs, we continue to meet qualified buyers. Despite global challenges, we work tirelessly to boost exports. With the visionary leadership of our BTSO President, Mr. İbrahim Burkay, I believe KFA Fuarcılık will achieve even greater success in the coming period.”
Serkan Çetintaş, owner of Bebekevi Textile, stated that they have participated in Junioshow since its inception:
“We met many new customers at the fair. There was a wide variety of buyers from Africa to Europe, from Asia to the Balkans. This diversity impressed us greatly. Thanks to the B2B meetings, companies can achieve significant gains from this fair. I thank our President İbrahim Burkay and everyone involved in organizing this event.”
Participant Sedat Şengül noted that with new stands, they entered a new phase:
“The fair was very productive. The number of international visitors was highly satisfying. This year, we saw visitors from countries we had never encountered before. I believe fairs like this are very valuable, not only for exhibitors but also for all stakeholders in the industry.”
Foreign buyers attending the fair also emphasized that each edition continues to raise the bar. Anna Grıgorova, a representative of the Russian company Ozon, shared her impressions:
“This is my first time at Junioshow, and I really liked it. We held serious negotiations, and after returning to Moscow, we will continue discussions with companies to establish partnerships. We are very satisfied with the quality of Turkish products and the variety of designs. I saw many models here that I had never encountered before. I believe the future of this fair is very bright.”
Mohammed Elsalam, Chairman of the Ready-Made Clothing and Home Textiles Chamber of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, recalled that nearly 20 days ago, a Turkish delegation, including Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat and BTSO Chairman İbrahim Burkay, visited Egypt:
“We signed a protocol during that visit. Relations between Turkey and Egypt are returning to where they should be. I believe these agreements will be beneficial for both countries. Egyptian companies are also participating in Junioshow, while Turkish companies will attend the upcoming fair in Cairo in January. Junioshow has already become the first fruit of these agreements. I was impressed by the fair’s new format and product diversity. I also received very positive feedback from visitors.”
Baaba Baidoo Otoo, a company owner from Ghana attending Junioshow for the first time, said:
“The products of Bursa-based companies are of very high quality. I had the chance to visit many stands, and all the products were fascinating. In previous fairs, I often encountered non-textile sectors, making it hard to find what I was looking for. But Junioshow was a perfect opportunity for my company. It was a highly productive, textile-focused fair where we found exactly what we needed.”
