Fashion Prime Brings the Fashion World Together in İzmir
Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, the Fashion Prime – 8th Textile, Ready-to-Wear Suppliers and Technologies Fair is presenting the first trends of 2026 fashion through runway shows held as part of the event. Choreographers, organizers, and models emphasized that the fair is an inspiring event for the industry, adding that preparations for IF Wedding Fashion İzmir have already begun.
On the second day of Fashion Prime – 8th Textile, Ready-to-Wear Suppliers and Technologies Fair, hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, designs prepared entirely using fabrics from participating companies were showcased in three special runway shows. Some dresses were completed directly on the models by pinning, without prior sewing. The first mixed show featuring pieces from 17 companies, as well as a solo show presenting a single brand’s collection, were choreographed by Akif Örük, with both shows organized by designer Erkan Yılmaz. The final show of the day, featuring five companies, was choreographed by Serkan Duman and Gökhan Duman. Top models, including Özge Ulusoy and Gizem Özdilli, successfully presented collections where special lace and fabrics stood out.
A Fair Inspiring the Industry
Evaluating the fair and its runway shows, designers, choreographers, and models expressed that the event is a significant source of inspiration for the sector and successfully reflects the first trends of the 2026 fashion season. Gizem Özdilli said she was happy to be on the runway in the fair’s 8th year, adding, “It’s a wonderful fair—kudos to everyone involved. I’m very happy to be part of such a beautiful organization.”
“Being in İzmir and on this runway is always a pleasure”
Renowned model Özge Ulusoy also shared her excitement about being part of Fashion Prime, stating:
“I first came to IF Wedding Fashion İzmir around 2007 or 2008. Since then, I have been regularly attending İZFAŞ fairs. Being in İzmir, being part of the İZFAŞ family, and walking this runway is always a joy for me. Participation is very high this year, which makes us very happy. Events like this are so important because you first see the fabrics and then witness how they transform into final designs. Fashion Prime is actually like a preview of IF Wedding. The materials we see at the fabric fair reappear as wedding gowns and evening dresses a few months later. This process fuels our imagination and helps us see the trends of the upcoming season.”
“The sector is preparing for IF Wedding Fashion İzmir”
Famous designer and organizer Erkan Yılmaz said:
“Fashion Prime, now in its 8th year, has become one of the most important fairs in fashion. The runway section, in particular, is different from eveningwear or ready-to-wear fairs; here, fabric companies prepare special collections specifically for the shows. There is tremendous effort behind this. We spoke with the companies, and they are all very pleased. I’ve been part of this fair for eight years, and the bar rises every year. We thank İZFAŞ and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality for the opportunities they provide. As soon as Fashion Prime ends, we immediately start working on IF Wedding Fashion İzmir – 19th Wedding Gowns, Suits, and Evening Wear Fair, which will be held in January 2026. It will be much more comprehensive and spectacular. There will be more runway shows, and a very busy schedule awaits us.”
“Fabrics come to life on the runway”
Choreographer Akif Örük emphasized the importance of the show’s concept and creative process, saying:
“Every designer and model involved in this fair has put in a tremendous amount of effort. We had 25 models on stage. The materials we usually see only as fabric come to life here on the runway. This transformation is incredibly valuable. Sustainability is now at the center of the fashion industry. Ecological fabrics and innovative textures made their debut here. İzmir is truly setting the pulse of the sector.”
“A hundred-person team, tremendous effort”
Choreographer Serkan Duman highlighted the extensive work behind the scenes:
“More than 100 people contributed to the Fashion Prime runway—from hair stylists and makeup artists to models and technical teams. This fair is very important for the fashion world. It offers the first hints of the 2026 trends. It’s an invaluable platform for designers. They had the chance to see, for the first time, the lace, fabrics, and accessories that will inspire their 2026 collections. With materials brought from all around the world, we can say that the first heartbeat of 2026 fashion is felt here in İzmir, at Fashion Prime. We thank everyone who contributed to this magnificent organization and the İZFAŞ family for providing this opportunity.”
“The first step toward fashion”
İZFAŞ Fairs Director Yeşim Yiğit highlighted the strong connection between the two fairs and emphasized their importance for the textile and fashion sectors. Yiğit said:
“This year, we will hold IF Wedding Fashion İzmir from 20–22 January 2026. Currently, the majority of IF Wedding participants are also taking part in Fashion Prime. This is a point of pride for us because we know that the first step of these products is taken at this fair. All the outfits featured in the runway shows were produced using fabrics from our participating companies. This allows us to see how these trend fabrics are transformed into designs and how they can be used. We hope this fair continues to inspire the fashion industry.”