The civil war in Syria has damaged its textile and garment industry. Many manufacturing facilities are shut. Interruptions to transport, logistics, electricity and water supply have also affected production and added to costs. Around 70 per cent of production facilities have been destroyed. There is a shortage of cotton because of damage to agriculture. Quite a few textile manufacturers have moved to Egypt or Turkey.

In an attempt to revive their war-devastated industry, Syrian manufacturers, trade associations and international buyers are holding a three-day trade fair, the Syrian Fashion Fair, in Beirut. They hope to secure sizeable new export orders for children’s wear and lingerie.

However, the war has also had some beneficial effects. The decrease in the value of the Syrian pound has made products highly competitive and labor cheaper. The cancellation of the Turkish Free Trade Agreement in 2012 means Syrian manufacturers are no longer competing with cheaper and often higher quality Turkish imports.

Textiles was the cornerstone of Syrian export in the years leading up to the crisis, as a part of its efforts to diversify the country’s economy away from oil. But three years of conflict have cost the industry dearly.