In this insightful fireside chat hosted by Kohan Textile Journal, Editor-in-Chief Behnam Ghasemi moderated a rich discussion on the digital transformation of the fashion and textile industry. The session brought together two distinguished speakers: Mr. Celil Zeki, Vice President of Delta Galil Egypt, and Mr. Milas Levent, Director – Sales & Customer Success, EMEA at Coats Digital.
The conversation began by exploring the current challenges facing fashion manufacturers, particularly in Egypt. Mr. Celil Zeki shared real-world experiences about economic instability, such as the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, rising import costs, supply chain issues, and a shortage of skilled labor. These issues directly affect production timelines, quality, and competitiveness.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Zeki highlighted the strong potential of Egypt’s textile sector due to its strategic location, young workforce, and free trade agreements, including the QIZ agreement with the USA. To capitalize on these opportunities, Delta Galil is investing in automation, employee training, and collaborating with Coats Digital to improve efficiency and planning.
Mr. Milas Levent offered a deep dive into what digital transformation truly means. He clarified that it is not just about IT but a strategic integration of digital tools and industrial know-how. Coats Digital, backed by over 270 years of experience, provides software solutions tailored for the textile and apparel sector, including FastReactPlan, GSDCost, and FRM.
Milas explained how FastReactPlan helps with macro and micro planning, enabling better production sequencing, minimizing changeovers, and increasing on-time delivery. GSDCost, on the other hand, uses standardized methods to calculate production times and costs, helping manufacturers reduce SMVs and boost productivity—leading to measurable cost savings and enhanced competitiveness.
The discussion then moved to sustainability, a central concern in today’s fashion world. Mr. Zeki emphasized that sustainability is now a must-have, driven by consumer expectations and environmental responsibilities. He described how Delta Galil leverages technologies such as RFID tracking and Coats Digital tools to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and support real-time monitoring of operations. These initiatives are helping the company align with global sustainability goals while maintaining high performance.
In response, Mr. Levent elaborated on how Coats Digital enables manufacturers to turn sustainability into a competitive advantage. Their digital tools support lean manufacturing, accurate planning, and real-time tracking, which reduces overproduction, energy consumption, and rework. By doing so, companies can meet compliance standards and elevate their brand value.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, inviting attendees to interact with the speakers. This session offered a practical understanding of how digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessity for survival and growth in the evolving textile and fashion manufacturing landscape.
