Orka Holding made its debut in the men’s ready-to-wear industry in 1986 with the brand Damat. Transforming men’s fashion into a lifestyle, Orka Holding developed its own brands with 100% Turkish capital, establishing itself as a key player in the industry. In 2012, through a foreign partnership agreement, it became a a global holding company and expanded its presence in international markets. Following the success of Damat, known for its premium fabrics and sophisticated designs, recognized as “the consumer’s favorite menswear brand”, Orka Holding introduced Tween to the men’s clothing industry. Tween has been widely praised for its unique and original designs, further solidifying Orka Holding’s influence in the market.
1986 – 2002
Süleyman and Halidun Orakçıoğlu, along with their cousin Osman Arar, entered the men’s ready-to-wear market with the Damat brand, starting in a small shop in Osmanbey. Damat became the first and only Turkish ready-to-wear brand featured in Uomo Collezioni under the headline “A Star in Turkey.” Damat Tween won the Golden Award at the Cape Town International Fashion Fair in South Africa for having the best stand. For the Fall/Winter 2000 season, the brand collaborated with famous supermodel Marcus Schenkenberg for its catalog photoshoot.
Expanding to Scandinavia after establishing a presence in 13 countries, Damat Tween strengthened its global presence by opening a store in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. With the goal of reaching a broader audience, Orka Holding launched the D’S Damat brand. Süleyman Orakçıoğlu was named “Entrepreneur of the Year 2002” by Ekonomist magazine, while Damat Tween received the “Most Successful Brand” award from Dünya newspaper.
2011 – 2016
Tween held the closing fashion show of London Fashion Week. Damat Tween utilized nanotechnology to produce breathable, radiation-blocking jackets, wrinkle-resistant and stain-proof suits, and anti-stress T-shirts. Porsche selected Tween as its design and marketing partner, with Tween designs gaining significant attention during the promotion of the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. Damat Tween made headlines in Italy by opening nine corners in nine days. For the first time, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) featured a Turkish company on its official website by showcasing Damat Tween’s promotional video.
Orka Holding signed a partnership agreement with Investcorp and opened its 200th store. D’S Damat continued its growth by opening its 100th store and became the official clothing sponsor for La Liga team Deportivo Alavés, FK Spartak Moscow, Dinamo Bucharest, and the Macedonian National Team. Damat also became the official clothing sponsor of Trabzonspor and launched the “If Women Touch the World, It Changes” project in collaboration with the Koruncuk Foundation. This project, featuring prominent figures such as Nebahat Çehre and Ayşe Arman, attracted significant interest. Orka Academy graduated its 12th class, introducing 103 managerial candidates to the industry. Additionally, the group won the “Superbrand” award from the Superbrands organization and was named the “Most Quality Textile Company” at the Quality Awards.
2005 – 2010
Creative Director David Bradshaw provided consultancy for the Tween brand. Orka Group was recognized as the “Most Well-Known Brand” in Romania and opened its fourth store on Calea Dorobantilor. World-famous actor Brad Pitt received a leather jacket he admired at the Damat Tween ADV Berlin store as a gift from Orka Group Chairman Süleyman Orakçıoğlu. Tween won the “Best Campaign of the Year” award at the Fashion TV Fashion Awards and was named an “Icon Brand” at Pitti Immagine Uomo.
Four Marketing, one of the world’s leading showrooms, showcased Tween collections at Studio Zeta in Milan. Entering the Far East market, Damat Tween opened stores in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Tween introduced its first women’s collection at a fashion show held at Esma Sultan Mansion. Named “Brand of the Month” by Loaded magazine, Tween was invited to the Magic Fashion Fair as “Europe’s Prestige Brand.” The fashion portal WGSN recognized Tween as a Turkish brand shaping men’s fashion. Additionally, Damat Tween ADV opened Artgalerim Nişantaşı, hosting various art events.
2017 – 2024
Damat became the official clothing sponsor of the Turkish National Football Teams and Fenerbahçe Sports Club. D’S Damat opened its flagship European store on Serrano Street in Madrid. With investments focusing on sustainability and digitalization, Damat Tween included suits made from fabrics produced from recycled PET bottles in its 2020/21 collection. In 2021, Damat Tween introduced its SS21 collection through Virtual Runway 2021, Turkey’s first virtual fashion show, and became the first Turkish fashion brand to open a virtual store in the metaverse. Damat Tween also became the official fashion sponsor of Atlético Madrid, while D’S Damat became the official clothing sponsor of South Africa’s men’s and women’s national football teams.
Orka Holding ended its partnership with Investcorp and decided to continue its operations with 100% Turkish capital. The company opened its European headquarters and global showroom, Orka Global, along with the European Logistics Center in Bologna, Italy. D’S Damat expanded further, opening stores in Rome and Milan in Italy, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Oran in Algeria, and Atlanta in the USA. In 2022, Orka Holding introduced Beverly Hills Polo Club to Turkey and collaborated with the circular economy initiative Nivogo to refurbish unsold products. In 2024, Orka Holding was included in the “Happiest Workplaces of 2024” list, earning recognition in the Happy Place to Work Awards, as well as receiving multiple accolades in İHKİB’s Successful Exporters Awards.