Fashion industry leaders from more than 50 countries have signed an agreement to form an international fashion federation of the BRICS countries. The official name: BRICS International Fashion Federation.
The BRICS is an intergovernmental organization that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and, since 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The memorandum establishing the BRICS International Fashion Federation was signed by the heads of fashion weeks, the CEOs of fashion and textile associations and the managements of educational institutions from India, South Africa, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana, Tanzania, Jordan, Ecuador, Paraguay, Kenya and many other countries such as Tunisia.
The signing took place after the Brics Fashion Summit, which took place in Moscow from October 3 to 5, 2024 and was attended by more than 100 countries.
Shifting the focus of the fashion industry
The goal? Shift the focus of the fashion industry to promote emerging fashion by encouraging collaboration among signatories. Sunil Sethi, chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India, said in a statement: “The fashion industry is mainly led by a handful of global brands, so there is a need for a platform for emerging markets to make their voices heard.
“The call for such an alliance is long overdue,” he adds. Brands, designers and fashion markets face common challenges – from supply chain disruption to environmental issues – that can be addressed more effectively by working together.”
Promoting new brands and more environmental responsibility
The declaration lists key objectives as: Promoting local designers, advocating eco-friendly fashion, improving cultural relations and creating a common ground for emerging economies through information and education activities. The participating countries want to promote new technologies, preserve cultural identities and support traditional craftsmanship.
“We are committed to providing these visionaries with a global platform and local events to ensure their creative work is celebrated around the world,” the statement read. Our goal is to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices by pursuing transparent methods that significantly reduce the fashion industry’s environmental footprint. Slow fashion, characterized by thoughtful consumption and production, will be central to the BRICS IFF agenda.”
This translated article previously appeared on FashionUnited FR. Translation and editing by Caitlyn Terra.
Source: fashionunited.nl
