The global apparel industry is facing increasing pressure from rising costs, labour shortages, supply chain disruption and growing sustainability demands. At the same time, brands are expecting faster lead times, greater flexibility and improved transparency from their manufacturing partners.
In this exclusive interview with Haytham Habib, Sales Director for EMEA & Americas at Coats Digital, Kohan Textile Journal explores the trends shaping the future of apparel manufacturing and how digital technologies are helping manufacturers remain competitive.
Read more:Â Coats Digital Highlights Smart Factory Solutions at SMARTEX 2026 in Cairo
A New Era of Manufacturing Challenges
According to Habib, manufacturers are no longer dealing with individual challenges in isolation. Instead, multiple pressures are converging at once, making operational efficiency and rapid decision-making more important than ever.
Organisations that continue to rely on fragmented systems and delayed reporting risk falling behind. Those embracing digital transformation are gaining the visibility and insight needed to respond more effectively to changing market conditions.
Türkiye’s Opportunity in a Changing Sourcing Landscape
With its proximity to Europe, strong manufacturing capabilities and skilled workforce, Türkiye is well positioned to benefit from ongoing shifts in global sourcing strategies.
As brands increasingly seek faster, more responsive supply chains, Turkish manufacturers have an opportunity to strengthen their competitive advantage. However, success will depend on their ability to improve productivity, enhance visibility and adopt more agile production planning processes.
Productivity, Visibility and Agility
Habib highlights three critical priorities for manufacturers seeking long-term success:
- Improving productivity through better planning and standardised processes
- Increasing visibility with access to real-time operational data
- Building agility to respond quickly to changing customer and market demands
Digitalisation plays a key role across all three areas, helping manufacturers make faster and more informed decisions.
The Rise of AI and Real-Time Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving beyond experimentation and delivering practical business value. Rather than replacing people, AI is helping manufacturers turn complex operational data into actionable insights that support better decision-making.
At the same time, real-time visibility is becoming essential. Manufacturers need immediate access to accurate information to identify issues early, improve collaboration and maintain delivery performance in increasingly volatile markets.
Helping Manufacturers Improve Performance
Coats Digital continues to support fashion manufacturers through solutions that improve efficiency, productivity and profitability.
Recent innovations include GSD RealMotion, which provides Motion Intelligence to boost overall shopfloor performance, and AI Analytics, which transforms production, supply chain and sales data into real-time business intelligence, as well as established solutions such as GSDCost®, GSDQuest™ and FastReactPlan™, which help manufacturers improve costing accuracy, preserve operational knowledge, optimise planning and enhance responsiveness.
Looking Ahead
Habib believes the most successful manufacturers will be those that combine operational excellence with digital intelligence. By bringing together people, processes and data, businesses can improve agility, increase productivity and make better decisions faster.
As the industry continues to evolve, manufacturers that embrace digital transformation, AI and real-time visibility will be best placed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
🎥 Watch the interview with Haytham Habib to learn more about the technologies and strategies shaping the future of fashion manufacturing.
