Source: Wide Angle: "Turkey's Tigers"
Mustafa Karaduman has successfully consolidated his faith and trade into creating Tekbir, Turkey’s largest Islamic-style clothing chain. In this video segment from Wide Angle, get a behind the scenes look at a Tekbir fashion show in the Turkish capital of Istanbuland watch Karaduman as he manages to include the Islamic obligation of daily prayers into the scheduling of a runway show.
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Turkey is located in a part of the world that was once called the Near East. For centuries it was a link between Europe and Asia. Its main city, Istanbul (previously called Constantinople), was a trading, religious, and social hub. Both Christianity and Islam have had major influences on the development of Turkey's culture.
In the early 1900s Turkey experienced a period of rapid economic and social change. In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a popular leader in Turkey's military, declared the establishment of the Turkish Republic. He launched an aggressive program to modernize and secularize the country, which brought about many changes. Turkey has modernized its economy and is poised to become a member of the European Union. Simultaneously, religious and political leaders are working to preserve traditional Islamic aspects of Turkey's culture while embracing some of the West's attitudes and practices. Turkey's future stability and growth will be determined by how well it can incorporate the rich heritage of its past into its goals for future.
One of the industries that is confronted with this change is the garment industry. Some women in Turkey choose to wear traditional Islamic garb, while many others choose to wear non-traditional Western attire. What does this mean for business leaders in Turkey? What does it mean for female consumers? In the Turkey that is evolving, will there be room for both the past and the future?
NARRATOR Back in Istanbul the unveiling of Tekbir's latest collection is the conservative fashion event of the year.
Bearded Man 8 o'clock is the call to prayer. So people can pray until 8:30 and then they'll sit.
Male Organizer We don't have space for 2000 people to pray here.
Mustafa Karaduman Do you have an open space we can put carpet on?
Female Organizer Maybe not everybody will pray.
Mustafa Karaduman No, everybody can pray. We'll take care of this.
NARRATOR Tekbir's fashion show is a magnet for Istanbul's affluent and devout - and a make or break moment for Karaduman — to see if he can serve Allah and the bottom line.
Mustafa Karaduman Dear guests, we are excited to present our new line, which we have worked on for a long time. I hope everyone has a good night.
NARRATOR Tekbir's sales increased by 15 percent in 2005 - this fashion show is an effort to continue that trend by introducing a more colorful collection that could still appeal to conservative clientele.
NARRATOR Tuğba Özay is the star of Tekbir's fashion show and one of Turkey's top models.
She adheres to Karaduman's dress code in the show, but not afterwards.
Tuğba Özay I wish you more success.
Mustafa Karaduman Thank you.
Tuğba Özay My pleasure.
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