Opening its doors to the world from İzmir for the 13th time, IF Wedding Fashion İzmir shone brightly with the Final Fashion Show of the 10th Bridal Gown Design Competition. United under the theme “Creativity in Simplicity,” young designers presented the first creations of their careers to industry professionals and renowned fashion designers. The grandeur of the competition—featuring the most challenging theme to date—left a strong mark on the fair’s opening ceremony.
Since its inception, IF Wedding Fashion İzmir Bridal Wear, Groom Wear and Eveningwear Fair has continued to grow and evolve each year, contributing to both the sector and the national economy. As an event that shapes global fashion trends through its designs, IF Wedding Fashion İzmir also serves as a platform for discovering young talents. One of the most important events for the future of the industry, the Bridal Gown Design Competition, added excitement to the fair for the 10th time this year. Bringing young talents together with famous designers and industry professionals, the competition—under the theme “Creativity in Simplicity”—pushed participants beyond their limits and received full marks from the jury.
Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ in cooperation with the Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association (EGSD), the excitement of the 10th Bridal Gown Design Competition was experienced during the opening ceremony of the 13th IF Wedding Fashion İzmir. Out of 375 designs submitted by 125 designers, 15 designers who advanced to the semifinals walked the IF Wedding Fashion runway with the very first pieces of their careers. In a competition that challenged the jury with highly creative designs, Yasemin Dikerel won first place, Ece Anafarta placed second, and Gülşah Serin finished third.
Along with the 10,000 TL first prize, Yasemin Dikerel earned the right to present a Performance Fashion Show at the 14th IF Wedding Fashion İzmir. Naming her design after Hsi-Ling-Shi, the Chinese Empress credited with discovering silk, Dikerel said:
“This was my first time participating in the competition. It’s an indescribable feeling. When I think of simplicity, silk fabric comes to mind. I wanted to create a texture inspired by cocoons and combined it with knowledge about how silk is formed to create this design. I want to go as far as I can in design. That’s why I don’t set limits for myself.”
Second-place winner Ece Anafarta stated:
“It was truly a challenging process. This is a huge achievement for us. I just turned 18, and I really feel like I’ve accomplished something great.”
She added that she wants to finish school and begin working as a designer as soon as possible.
Third-place winner Gülşah Serin said:
“This is the first time I’ve created such a product professionally. My dream is to establish my own brand and become a designer recognized internationally. I want to represent my country in the best possible way abroad.”
With applications from all over Türkiye, the competition received top scores from the jury in terms of design, fabric quality, and craftsmanship. Jury members stated that “Creativity in Simplicity” was the most challenging theme to date and that selecting the top three among the 15 designs was extremely difficult.
One of the competition’s mentors, fashion designer Erol Albayrak, who has carried Turkish fashion from İzmir to the world, evaluated the process as follows:
“Simplicity in design is the hardest thing to achieve—simplifying a bridal gown is even harder. It requires excellent pattern-making, as garments do not tolerate flaws. This year’s contestants were given the most difficult concept, yet they achieved the best results. The designs were very close to the original sketches. Quality and creativity increased across the board. Design is the foundation of everything; we must produce design not only in form but also in ideas. In this sense, there is a strong concentration of fashion and design in İzmir. You don’t see this as often in Italy or Paris. The fair is very important because it brings together both design and production.”
Atınç Abay, Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association, evaluated İzmir’s and the competition’s progress in design, stating:
“We are very pleased to bring designers into the sector. Ten years ago, we set the goal of making İzmir the capital of fashion and design. Alongside the fair, our design competition has also grown. As people who know the past, we are truly impressed. The sector has advanced significantly. Young designers now come with much stronger designs and excellent craftsmanship. As the sector develops, designs improve; as designs improve, the sector develops—both sides win. I have never seen a competition where the jury struggled this much. I believe we have reached a level where we can be the capital of bridal wear. If French and Italian buyers come to us to place collection orders, it means we are selling fashion to fashion capitals. Not only in Türkiye but across the world—especially in Europe—this will further increase İzmir’s recognition and highlight the importance of design here.”
Actress Merve Boluğur, who expressed her excitement about being in İzmir and participating in such an event, said:
“This is exactly how young talents should be brought into the industry. They spend all their time creating beautiful things. I wish more than one person could be selected—each of them deserves great opportunities.”
Emphasizing that the competition opens many doors for designers, Boluğur referred to Amor Gariboviç, winner of the competition in 2017, who entered the fashion world with a Performance Fashion Show in 2018:
“I’m very proud of him. He achieved great things in a short time, and this design competition opened the way for him. He now has a store in Nişantaşı. Growing this much in such a short time gives you an idea of what he will accomplish in the future. I have great confidence in him and his designs.”