The tenth edition of IFCO – Istanbul Fashion Connection, held from 19-21 August 2026, reinforced Istanbul’s role as a major international business hub for fashion, welcoming 12,550 trade visitors from 117 countries.

More than 200 exhibitors showcased the breadth of Türkiye’s apparel industry, spanning womenswear, menswear and kidswear, to denim, eveningwear, lingerie, hosiery, accessories and homewear, setting the scene for a fair increasingly focused on international growth and category development.

 

 

IFCO Kids

Within this wider offer, IFCO Kids gave the childrenswear category a dedicated focus. The area featured brands including ADN Kids, Benitto Kids, Bebüş, Erbos Sumerica Socks, Erceylan, Hafy, InCity, Monna Rosa and Zeynep, with products ranging from baby and children’s fashion and footwear to loungewear, sleepwear and socks.

IFCO Kids’ presence is set to grow further at the show’s next edition in February 2027, when the segment is expected to include more than 50 brands, reflecting increasing international interest in Türkiye’s kidswear manufacturing capabilities. For buyers in the childrenswear sector, this growth is supported by Türkiye’s short lead times, flexible production and deep manufacturing infrastructure.

 

 

A key example of a childrenswear exhibitor demonstrating this combination of category focus and manufacturing expertise was Zeynep. Established in 1970, the family firm is now in its third generation and produces childrenswear using GOTS-certified organic cotton under fair, ethical conditions verified through annual Sedex/SMETA audits. Its portfolio includes Zeyland for children aged 0-14 years, Mininio for babies aged 0-2 years, and Zeyland Homewear, all available wholesale in the UK via Faire. The company also provides private and white label manufacturing and works as a trusted production partner for several well-known childrenswear brands.

 

 

International sourcing and manufacturing strength

That same emphasis on manufacturing capability fed into the fair’s wider international business agenda. The Hosted Buyer Programme brought exhibitors together with retailers, department stores, online platforms and distributors from markets including the USA, Canada, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Qatar, Kuwait and the UK. Many meetings progressed beyond introductions into sample requests and order negotiations, underlining IFCO’s role in converting new contacts into long-term commercial relationships.

This focus on future-facing production was matched by a strong emphasis on knowledge exchange. The show’s Trend Area, curated by the Istanbul Fashion Academy, explored macro shifts shaping future design directions, while seminars and panels addressed sustainability, digitalisation, AI, traceability and the European Green Deal – themes increasingly relevant to childrenswear sourcing and compliance.

 

 

New dates and sourcing opportunities

These strategic priorities are also shaping IFCO’s next phase of development, including a significant schedule change. From 2027, the show’s second edition of the year will move from August to September, responding to industry requirements and international sourcing and buying calendars.

The adjustment is designed to align the fair more closely with the planning cycles of international buying groups, creating better conditions for efficient fair visits, targeted meetings and concrete business outcomes. Building on the same sourcing momentum, IFCO also announced Sourceist, a new format launching in February 2027 to connect international brands with high-capacity Turkish manufacturers.

Together, these developments reinforced Istanbul’s role as an interface between design, production and international markets. For childrenswear buyers, the fair’s planned expansion of IFCO Kids, September scheduling and Türkiye’s manufacturing advantages position IFCO as an increasingly relevant sourcing destination.

IFCO – Istanbul Fashion Connection’s 2027 dates are 3-6 February 2027 and 8-11 September 2027. Sourceist will make its debut on 4-5 February 2027. For further information, please click here.