The BRICS+ Fashion Summit will take place in Moscow's Zaryadye Concert Hall from 28 to 30 September, bringing together industry leaders from rapidly growing economies. South Africa's Soweto Fashion Week (SFW) will be part of the country's delegation, showcasing the country's fashion talent. The summit will cover key industry topics, including changing global economic conditions, consumer behaviour, artificial intelligence, and investment, which uniquely influence the fashion landscape in emerging economies.
The summit will provide a platform for industry leaders to discuss regional manufacturing hubs and the restructuring of supply chains. Africa has been a vital exporter of raw materials but a net importer of finished goods. According to the International Trade Centre's Made by Africa report, Africa exports 90% of its raw cotton to Asia, while African cotton-apparel manufacturers source just 7% of their cotton yarn and 6% of their cotton fabric from elsewhere on the continent.
Soweto Fashion Week founder Stephen Manzini highlighted that Africa has exceptional creative talent and distinct cultural identities, but several barriers hinder its growth. He identified fragmentation within the continent's fashion industry as a significant challenge. An African designer may have demand in another African country but face significant barriers around logistics, customs, payment systems, taxation, retail distribution, and market access.
Manzini emphasized the need for regional distribution networks, fashion-specific logistics solutions, stronger e-commerce infrastructure, and partnerships between African retailers. The summit will provide an opportunity for industry leaders to establish business connections with stakeholders from participating countries. Manzini stated that BRICS fashion is no longer just about bringing different countries into the same room; the next step is turning dialogue into real markets, investment, and movement of talent.
The Global South has the creativity, manufacturing capability, and consumer markets to build a stronger fashion economy on its own terms. Manzini stressed that the responsibility now is to create connections that allow designers, brands, and businesses to move beyond representation and into genuine international opportunity. The summit will bring together designers, fashion brand founders, manufacturers, retailers, marketplaces, investors, technology companies, industry associations, development institutions, and leading media representatives from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
South Africa has one of the continent's more developed fashion ecosystems, but the industry still operates below its potential due to declined manufacturing capacity, high production costs, and emerging designers struggling to move from creative businesses into commercially sustainable companies. Manzini noted that across Africa, the picture is similar, with enormous differences between markets.
The BRICS+ Fashion Summit will enable industry leaders to address the challenges facing Africa's fashion industry and explore opportunities for growth and development. By creating connections and partnerships, the summit aims to promote a stronger fashion economy in the Global South. Key discussions at the summit will focus on regional manufacturing hubs, supply chain restructuring, and addressing the challenges faced by African designers and businesses.
Key points
- Soweto Fashion Week to participate in the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow
- The summit to address regional manufacturing hubs and supply chain restructuring
- Africa's fashion industry faces challenges, including fragmentation, limited manufacturing infrastructure, and restricted access to capital
