Furnishings & Design Istanbul (FDI), which brings together the most innovative and original examples of interior design from furniture to lighting and home textiles to accessories, has opened its doors at the Istanbul Expo Center. Organized by the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED) and holding the distinction of being Turkey’s first design-oriented fair, FDI will host its visitors from September 25-27, 2025, with numerous symposiums and events that bring designers and manufacturers together, in addition to product showcases.
Having attracted great interest in its first year, FDI will bring together 100 brands with industry professionals and visitors in a 12,000-square-meter area, including the foyer, along with curatorial exhibitions. At the design-centric fair, inspiring works will be featured in special areas such as Design Circle, New Horizon Exhibition, university exhibitions, and a 50th Anniversary exhibition.
Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar said, “The way for us to secure a permanent and strong place in the global arena is by prioritizing ‘design, branding, and green transformation’ and gaining a competitive advantage in these areas.”
Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM): “I believe that FDI will create a new synergy in exports.”
Ahmet Güleç, President of the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED): “We are building a furnishings ecosystem that transforms living spaces, shapes the soul of cities, and inspires dreams.”
Organized by the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED) and holding the distinction of being Turkey’s first design-oriented fair, FDI has opened its doors at the Istanbul Expo Center. The opening of the fair, which brings together the entire interior ecosystem with a focus on design under the motto “Design is in Istanbul Again,” was attended by Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Elif Canan Tuncer, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Mustafa Gültepe, Gaziosmanpaşa District Governor İskender Yönden, and, as the host, MOSFED President Ahmet Güleç. The fair, structured with a broad perspective ranging from sustainability to innovation and welcoming visitors until September 27, will raise the bar for design in the interior ecosystem across all categories, from furniture and lighting to home textiles and accessories. The fair will feature international speakers from Germany, Belgium, and Italy, and within the scope of FDI Talks sessions, 70 expert speakers will address topics such as sustainability, innovation, green transition, and the future of design.
The Center of the Newest and Most Inspiring Designs
Stating that Turkey is making a name for itself more and more every day in the international arena with its strong design vision, and that FDI is the center of the newest and most inspiring designs within this focus, President of the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED) Ahmet Güleç said, “FDI is the joint will of a strong structure representing 45,000 manufacturers. It is where the public sector, our exporters’ associations, our interior industry, our universities, our designers, and our non-governmental organizations meet on common ground. FDI is not a fair; it is a multi-layered platform with a mission and goals. I say with great pride that it is the only design fair of its kind in the world. Here, designers, universities, manufacturers, and NGOs meet under the same roof; bridges are built between manufacturers and designers through D2B meetings; the doors to global trade are opened with buyer delegations; and the future of the sector is discussed in panels. In our first year, we hosted 25,000 visitors with 40 brands in a 5,000 m² area. We achieved great success with D2B meetings, panels, and guests from 26 countries. This year, we have doubled in size. We have grown both in area and in content. We are continuing our journey with 100 brands, 10 panels, 40 speakers, and 9 design-focused exhibitions in a 12,000 m² area.” Güleç stated that FDI’s sustainable structure will be supported by contributing to the afforestation of cities, saying, “We are a sector intertwined with trees, forests, and ecological life. We wanted to establish 10 forests of 10,000 trees each in Turkey. We will bring our first forest of 10,000 trees to life in Istanbul in November. We will continue this with 10,000 trees every year. We are announcing this at FDI because we want to bring together innovation with sustainability, production with design, and brands with a global vision.”
The Way to Secure a Permanent Place in the Global Arena: Design, Branding, and Green Transformation
Stating that the way to secure a permanent and strong place in the global arena is through prioritizing design, branding, and green transformation, Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar said, “Design is not just about imagining; it is about bringing functionality and aesthetics together through the interaction of different disciplines. Today, the shrinking of living spaces, the efficient use of resources, and environmental sensitivity have given rise to new approaches in furniture design. Therefore, it is crucial for our furniture manufacturers to work in closer collaboration with the textile sector, sub-industries, and accessory producers to create user-friendly and innovative designs. In this context, we are particularly proud that FDI, which was attended by 40 brands and visited by 25,000 people last year, is expected to feature 100 brands this year and be visited by 35,000 people, including visitors from 30 different countries.” Highlighting the success of the furniture sector, Ağar added, “While our furniture sector provides significant added value and employment to our economy with its strong production, it has maintained its position as a net exporter for many years. Our furniture exports have increased tenfold over the last 20 years, reaching a level of 4.5 billion dollars. Our sector, which exports to more than 200 countries, has also increased its dollar-based unit price per kilogram by 63 percent during this period.”
“It Will Create a New Synergy in Exports”
Emphasizing that fairs are like a mirror of national economies, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Mustafa Gültepe stated that fairs allow countries’ production power and technological capacities to be seen, and that Turkey presents a strong structure in this regard. He said, “We carry out high-quality production. We are getting stronger in branding with each passing year. We are ambitious about the twin transformation of our sectors. In the early 2000s, our furniture exports were not even 180 million dollars. Today, we are pushing 5 billion dollars. And for 2028, we have an export target of 12 billion dollars. I believe we can reach this target if we can overcome issues related to competitiveness. I believe that a new synergy will be created in exports with Furnishings & Design Istanbul, which we are opening today.”
Inspiring by Offering an Enriched Experience
This year, FDI stands out not only for its product showcases but also for the wide range of content it offers. Experts in their fields participating in the FDI Talks sessions will conduct comprehensive evaluations on design, innovation, sustainability, and the future of the sector. While works by designers from different disciplines are exhibited in curatorial areas like Design Circle and New Horizon Exhibition, design will be addressed not only as an aesthetic element but also as an intellectual ground for discussion. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the “50 Years in Pursuit of Excellence” exhibition by Raşit Karaaslan, who is celebrating the 50th year of his professional life. Products and concepts produced exclusively for FDI, which cannot be seen anywhere else, will also be among the standout experiences of the fair. In addition, the curated exhibitions in halls 9 and 10 will offer a wide range, from the original projects of young designers to masterfully crafted furniture, and from university collaborations to the special concepts of leading names in the field. The furniture solutions from the “A Serious Design” camp, the “Open Source Furniture Design” projects by Bahçeşehir University students, and the “Masterful” exhibition developed by six master designers with furniture craftsmen will be among the standout experiences of FDI 2025. Furthermore, distinguished projects that have stood out in design competitions will also meet visitors in the foyer area.
