Industry professionals from dozens of countries have come to the BRICS+ Fashion Summit to discuss key aspects of global fashion and share their experience. They will talk about innovations. AI integration, sustainable development, globalization and the future of local brands. Below is a collection of statements dy Summit foreign participants on the hottest issues.
Hayden Ng, Founder, ASEAN International Fashion Week, Singapore
Sustainable materials, digital fashion (including virtual clothing and augmented reality) and supply chain transparency. Developments in these fields could have a huge impact on both environmental sustainability and consumer engagement. And, of course, there is AI and its increasingly extensive use in Singapore and Asia.
Mahlet Teklemariam, Founder, Hub of Africa Addis Fashion Week, Ethiopia
I look forward to innovations in sustainable fashion in Ethiopia and Africa. These include using traditional techniques and materials in eco-friendly ways, promoting ethical manufacturing and minimizing waste. The second trend is digital transformation and artificial intelligence. The third is production of high-tech fabrics using local materials, and the fourth is development of platforms connecting traditional craftsmen with modern designers. I would also mention integration of digital tools into the training curriculum and creation of premium brands based on traditional folk crafts.
Jay Ishak, President, Malaysian Official Designers Association, Malaysia
Artificial intelligence will impact on everything from design and manufacturing to marketing and retail. A more personalized approach to customers, virtual dressing rooms, supply chain optimization, waste reduction and more accurate development trend forecasting – all these will boost development of the fashion industry. Yet this trend makes us think about data privacy, potential loss of human creativity and ethical implications of automation. Even so, when used in a responsible way, AI can augment the human component in fashion, adding to both creativity and operational efficiency.
Arzu Vaqifqizi, Azerbaijan Fashion Week, Azerbaijan
AI is transforming the industry in a number of areas. 1. Prediction of trends based on Big Data analysis. 2. Personalized shopping experience based on user behaviour analysis. 3. Inventory management and better supply chain efficiency. 4. Virtual fitting. 5. Customer service: chatbots and virtual assistants.
Cem Altan, President, International Apparel Federation, Türkiye
Big businesses have always dominated the fashion industry. Yet everything started to change after the COVID pandemic, with growing interest in more local and personal brands and designers on the market. E-commerce has made the industry as a whole more global.
Anis Montacer, Tunis Fashion Week, Tunisia
The fashion industry does not have a simple binary choice of going more global or more local. Instead, it is growing into a more diverse and complex ecosystem. Global companies are likely to still prevail in market share and influence but local brands are starting to fill impactful niches by focusing on sustainability and authenticity. The future of fashion will probably be shaped by coexistence of these forces, with consumers gaining from a broader spectrum of options that reflect both global trends and local identity.
Marie José Natabou, Founder of Benin Fashion Week, Benin
We emphasize fashion collections that use local and green materials, primarily focusing on handmade clothes created by local artisans. This approach promotes fair wages and ethical labour practices, helping preserve traditional crafts while promoting cultural sustainability. We also do talk shows on sustainability in the fashion industry to provide designers and entrepreneurs with the knowledge they might need in order to adopt such practices in their businesses.
Ajay V. Singh, Founder, Colombo Fashion Week, Sri Lanka
We work in two dimensions. One is the annual Responsible Fashion Summit. This event, with a focus on sustainable development, is a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas. We have also launched a 10-point Responsible Meter rating. It shows designers their current performance and offers a training course helping them do better. We then share the rating with our consumers. Both these tools encourage and inspire designers to become sustainable.
