The Uludağ Textile Exporters' Association (UTİB) was established in Bursa in 1986 under the umbrella of the Uludağ Exporters' Associations. As of the beginning of 2026, UTİB has 3,937 active members.

Today, our Association exports to more than 160 countries and regions across all continents, with key markets including Spain, the United States, Egypt, Morocco, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, reaching a total export value of USD 1.222 billion by the end of 2025. In recent years, UTİB has organized numerous activities such as congresses, workshops, national participations in international fairs, buyer delegations, trend areas, seminars, training programs, and the TechXtile Start-Up Challenge, among others. Through its projects and activities, the Association has also succeeded in setting an example for the sector and other leading industries.

The Uludağ Textile Exporters' Association (UTİB) has successfully organized the R&D Project Market Program for ten years with the aim of integrating the textile industry—one of Türkiye’s leading export sectors—with research and development activities, encouraging university-industry collaboration, and increasing exports. Through this program, numerous projects have been brought to life, young researchers have been encouraged, and companies have been supported in renewing their vision. UTİB is proud to be a pioneer in this field.

Following ten years of the R&D Project Market Program, the need arose to transform the event in order to better respond to the needs of the industry by incorporating feasible and commercially viable projects, as well as entrepreneurship, into the ecosystem. In line with developments in global start-up ecosystems, UTİB aimed to foster an entrepreneurial culture within the textile and apparel industry and to introduce innovative ideas and ventures capable of creating added value for the sector. With these objectives in mind, the event, which had been organized since 2009, was renewed and its content updated in 2019, transforming it into an entrepreneurship program under the name “TechXtile Start-Up Challenge.”

On the other hand, in 2021, we gathered all our activities related to entrepreneurship under a single roof, under the name TECHXTILE PLATFORM, in order to bring a constantly living and developing entrepreneurship platform to our sector. “TECHXTILE START-UP CHALLENGE” where innovative ideas of entrepreneur candidates compete, “TECHXTILE INNOVATION LEAGUE” where innovative applications made in institutions compete, “TECHXTILE MIND-IDEA MEETINGS” that develop and inspire the ecosystem, “TECHXTILE ACADEMY” which hosts many valuable trainings and finalists and “TECHXTILE MEMBERS' CLUB”, where applicants are constantly supported by their membership,

As of 2024, we continue this initiative under the name “TechXtile Challenge Design Contest,” organized under the coordination of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) and with the support of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye.

Due to the declining natural resources and the increasing world population, effective use of resources has become a policy that should be implemented in all industrial branches. Technological, ecological and social changes have brought about changes in the norms of needs and it has emerged that industries should turn to sustainable and environmental strategies.

In this regard, Uludağ Textile Exporters Association is carrying out projects focused on ecological production, social compliance, and sustainable development in the Home Textile and Clothing Fabrics sectors. Adopting environmentally friendly and socially responsible production processes in line with international standards is essential not only for safeguarding the future of our planet, but also for enhancing competitiveness and supporting the sustainable growth of foreign trade.

The textile sector is one of Türkiye's traditional industrial branches and a cornerstone of its success story in industry and exports. Taken as a whole, the Turkish textile and apparel sector is currently the country's leading sector in terms of generating a foreign trade surplus. In addition, it makes significant contributions to reducing unemployment and enhancing social welfare through the employment it creates. With its product quality, design capabilities that shape fashion and trends, and advanced technological infrastructure, the Turkish textile sector holds a distinctive position worldwide. 

Türkiye continues to maintain its position as Europe's largest textile producer and ranks among the world's top seven countries in cotton production. In home textiles, the installed machinery park dedicated to embroidery and guipure production is recognized as one of the most advanced and largest production infrastructures globally in terms of scale and capacity. Türkiye hosts Europe's highest-capacity bed linen manufacturing facilities. In the towel and bathrobe segment, Türkiye is among the world's top three suppliers, holding a strong position in global markets thanks to its quality and sustainable production capabilities. Türkiye's share of global textile exports stands at approximately 3–4%, while its share in home and interior textiles is close to 4%; with its production strength, logistical advantages, and wide product range, the sector continues to maintain its strategic importance within global supply chains.