ATHIB 8. Woven Fabric Design Contest awards ceremony, which is traditionally organized with the support Ministry of Trade and Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM), was held at Adana Archaeology Museum (Old National Textile Weaving Factory). Sedef Suna Güler won the first prize with the theme of ‘The River of Forgetting: Lethe’ in the competition, which was attended by 62 students from 14 universities. Serdar Akyüz came second with ‘Ona Eureka’ theme and Maide Özer took third place with her ‘Ine Nari’ theme. LC Waikiki Special Award was shared by Aykut Alcı with the theme of ‘Magma’ and Beyaz Atman with the theme of ‘Mysterious Touch’.
The winner received two-year training abroad and 25 thousand Turkish Lira, the second 20 thousand Turkish Lira, the third 15 thousand Turkish Lira in the competition, whereas 10 finalists will participate in the Paris Premiere Vision Textile Fair and a table top loom is said to be provided as well as.
‘We want to be the imitated, not the imitator’
In his opening speech at the award ceremony, Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO) President and ATHIB Woven Fabric Design Competition Executive Board Chairman Zeki Kıvanç said that they organized such a competition in order to develop innovative and original designs, to be active in the international textile market and to be among the countries that determine fashion.
Zeki Kıvanç said that they organized this year’s competition with the theme ‘Determine Your Own Theme’; and said, “We want to be the imitated, not the imitator. We want the companies in our region to adopt the design culture. We want to create original and global values with our own culture. We support our young to achieve these goals. We have brought together nearly a thousand designers to the industry. We sent the winners of our competition to overseas trainings. We believe that the added value that this competition; which is shown as one of the best examples of university-industry cooperation; brings to our region and our country is very important”.
‘Qualified designer emerges amongst talented students’
Zeki Kıvanç asked High Education Board (YÖK) to reconsider the decision of central placement of students in fashion design related departments instead of the talent exam. Kıvanç said; “Qualified designer emerges amongst talented students. Until now, students were taken to the departments of fashion design with a talent exam; but with the decision taken by YÖK this year, students will be admitted to the said departments with central placement. We think that this decision is not correct. We do not believe that creative talents can be measured by centralized exams; and we expect YÖK to review this decision”.
Adana Governor Mahmut Demirtas emphasized that the competition is of great importance for increasing the design capacities; and added value of Turkish textile companies and supporting the creativity of the students who will direct the sector.
Deputy Commerce Minister Rıza Tuna Turagay said that Turkey will receive 3 percent share with 10.3 billion USD from the 342 billion USD world textile market; and in order to increase the competitiveness, design, innovation and product development of the country presents great importance.