Opening its doors with a magnificent start, IF Wedding Fashion, which shapes global fashion from İzmir, welcomed visitors in grand style. Beginning with the Final Fashion Show of the Bridal Gown Design Competition, the fair concluded its first action-packed day with the Cihan Nacar Gala Night Fashion Show. The gala was crowned by a live performance from Sibel Can, who left a lasting mark on the evening.
Europe’s largest fashion fair, IF Wedding Fashion İzmir – 15th Bridal Wear, Groom Wear and Eveningwear Fair, greeted visitors with an enchanting opening that ended a two-year longing. The opening of İzmir’s fashion-leading fair began with the Final Fashion Show of the 12th Bridal Gown Design Competition. The excitement of the 15 finalists, who showcased their designs on the runway for the first time in their professional careers, was shared by Burcu Esmersoy, who hosted the show.
Following the opening, the fair’s first day—already breathtaking with nonstop runway shows—reached a new level with the Cihan Nacar Gala Fashion Show. The renowned fashion designer mesmerized fashion lovers with his special collection prepared exclusively for the fair, titled “Mystery Garden.” Known for creating firsts, Nacar introduced his first bridal gown design especially for IF Wedding Fashion İzmir within his 30-piece collection. The show opened with a couture bikini worn by Tülin Şahin, one of Nacar’s signature models, while his first bridal gown for the fair was presented by Şevval Şahin. The stunning Çağla Şıkel closed the show. Burcu Esmersoy, dazzling in a Cihan Nacar design, also hosted the fashion show. The gala attracted great interest from guests from Türkiye and around the world, and Nacar’s collection received enthusiastic applause.
The surprise guest of the gala night organized especially for the fair’s first day was Sibel Can. Fair visitors experienced unforgettable moments with the stage performance of one of Türkiye’s most powerful voices. Performing songs by many iconic artists, Sibel Can expressed her happiness at performing at one of the world’s most important fashion fairs. Adding a special meaning to the night, her costume was designed by Amor Garibovic, one of the previous winners of the bridal gown design competition held within the scope of the fair.
Stating that he designed a bridal gown for the first time under his own brand specifically for the fair, Cihan Nacar said:
“I am proud to be staging a fashion show at a world-renowned fair. I wanted the gala show to be worthy of a bridal and eveningwear fair. I’m very excited. I prepared very carefully for this evening. The moment I stepped onto the runway, my excitement grew even more. We set out to create a mystical garden for everyone attending and watching. This is the first time I’m presenting a bridal gown, and at the same time, the first time I’ve worked on such a large number of eveningwear pieces.”
Tülin Şahin, the top model of the gala fashion show, commented:
“It’s wonderful to be back in İzmir—we truly missed it. This is the first runway show with a live audience after the pandemic. The fact that this is Cihan’s gala show makes it even more special for me. As we all know, this fair is extremely important. It makes a huge contribution to the sector. It’s one of Europe’s largest fashion fairs. It contributes greatly to the economy, introduces new designers, and creates a visual feast with its fashion shows.”
Bringing manufacturers together with retailers, wholesalers, and chain stores, IF Wedding Fashion İzmir Fair makes a major contribution to production and exports. İzmir accounts for approximately 70% of Türkiye’s bridal gown production, exporting primarily to Europe and the Middle East, as well as to markets worldwide. Hosting visitors from more than 100 countries, the fair features 195 exhibitors showcasing their products.
Organized by İZFAŞ in partnership with the Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association (EGSD) and hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, IF Wedding Fashion İzmir will continue to welcome industry professionals at fuarizmir Halls A and B until Friday, November 19. The fair is open to visitors between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM.