Zeki Triko Chairman Şefik Kaya made statements regarding the recent allegations in the public about Zeki and Zeki Triko. Türkiye’s famous swimwear manufacturer Zeki Triko, founded in 1958 by businessperson Zeki Başeskioğlu, had been put up for sale due to economic difficulties in recent years. As a result of the sale that took place in December 2021, Şefik Kaya became the new owner of the Zeki Triko brands.
In recent news, it was claimed that the founder of the brand transferred the naming rights of Zeki Triko A.Ş. to Gökhan Göksel with a notarized consent form in 2020, that Şefik Kaya’s lawsuit for naming rights was rejected, and the court ruled in favour of Göksel. In response, Kaya emphasized that all rights of the brand were transferred to their company within the framework of legal processes, stating that some of the allegations in the media do not reflect the truth.
“All Zeki brands have been transferred to our company”
Şefik Kaya reminded that brands such as Zeki, Zeki Triko, Zeki Sea, and Zeki Fit were put up for auction by the Istanbul 13th Enforcement Office due to the debtor company’s inability to pay its debts and the creditors’ request for sale: “Our company made the highest bid, and all rights of the brands were transferred to our company within the framework of Turkish Law. As can be understood from this, Zeki is not just a single brand, but the entirety of Zeki brands.”
“The consent form in question is clearly legally invalid”
Kaya stated that some individuals are trying to seize the brand, explaining that the attempt to acquire the Zeki brand, which was in a seized state in 2020, was rejected by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. “An impression was created as if a new brand was created from scratch by changing the brand logo with a fraudulent consent form obtained from the debtor company. However, transactions on seized brands are only possible with the permission of the creditors or the authorized enforcement office. Therefore, the consent form in question is clearly legally invalid,” he said.
“The lawsuit regarding trademark infringement continues”
Kaya noted that the statements in the media such as “triko is gone, Zeki remains” do not reflect the truth, and that this is part of a perception operation aimed at imitating the brand: “Therefore, our company has initiated legal proceedings regarding trademark infringement, and the case is ongoing. There is no finalized decision in favour of the individual yet.”
“Zeki maintains its leading position in luxury beachwear”
Şefik Kaya also addressed the unfounded allegations regarding the brand’s quality standards, stating that Zeki and Zeki Triko maintain their leading position in luxury beachwear. Kaya summarized the brand’s future strategy as follows:
Superior Product Quality: High-quality fabrics imported from Italy and the best production materials are used.
Strong Production Team: A team of professionals with 20 to 40 years of experience is employed.
Global Brand Strategy: International shoots were conducted with Irina Shayk and Mert Alaş in 2023, Jérôme Duran and Lais Ribeiro in 2024. Ambitious projects are planned for 2025.
Store Expansion and Digital Growth: 11 stores and 50 sales points were opened in the last three years, and growth continues with e-commerce.
Global Collaborations: Collaborations with Swarovski and worldwide designers enhance the brand’s prestige.
Emphasizing that Zeki continues to strengthen its position in the luxury fashion sector, Kaya said, “We redefine the luxury of the future by blending the inspiration we take from the past with modern touches.”