DeFacto is the second largest brand in Turkey’s ready-to-wear industry.

DeFacto CEO İhsan Ateş stated that foreign brands struggle to compete in Turkey, saying, ‘Global brands usually conduct thorough analyses before entering Turkey; they are cautious. Some fail to succeed.’ Ateş recalled that they achieved a turnover of 1.6 billion TRY in seven years and added, ‘We aim to reach a turnover of 11 billion TRY by 2025.’

As one of the fastest-growing companies in the ready-to-wear sector, DeFacto remains determined to continue its rapid growth in 2016. Founded in 2003 by Zeki Cemal Özen, owner of Ozan Tekstil, the company’s key distinction is that it is not a ‘family-run’ business. DeFacto’s management is led by CEO İhsan Ateş and his team. Having started his career at one of the highest-revenue-generating companies in the apparel industry, LC Waikiki, İhsan Ateş is both a partner and CEO of DeFacto. We spoke with İhsan Ateş at DeFacto’s headquarters.

WE STARTED WITH 4 PEOPLE

How did you start working? Did you leave LC Waikiki to establish a competitor company?

-I am from Malatya. I had gone to Istanbul for university. When I returned, Vahap Küçük, the founder of LC Waikiki, who was a family friend, took me under his wing. At that time, there were only 4 of us. Now, LC Waikiki has grown into a company employing 30,000 people. I learned a lot there. I worked at LC Waikiki for over 10 years and then went to England to receive retail training. After returning, I established my own company.

Source:https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/yabancilar-rekabette-zorlaniyor-40164162