Sri Lanka joins BRICS International Fashion Federation as Founding Member

Group photo of the delegates

CFW Managing Director Ajai V. Singh speaks at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow

At the recent BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow, leaders from fashion associations across over 50 countries announced the formation of the BRICS International Fashion Federation, which includes Sri Lanka.

This initiative aims to establish new centres of influence, strengthen international ties, improve industry sustainability, and provide emerging designers with opportunities to grow.

Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) Managing Director Ajai V. Singh said: “In today’s world, collaboration and knowledge sharing is critical for growth. Not only my country, but each country that is part of the BRICS Fashion Federation has a unique opportunity to grow and benefit from it. A format of exchange can foster an overall upgrade. Moscow can be proud of this – as a city or a centre that brought us together, united us on a common goal, and encouraged open dialogue with transparency and a horizontal structure. This is a good start and Moscow can really build on this foundation and create a progressive global structure. I was pleased to be a part of it.”

Singh was invited as a speaker at the BRICS Fashion Summit to share insights on “Circularity and Sustainability.” CFW, which has created a fashion ecosystem in Sri Lanka in the last 21 years, was invited to contribute to the development of fashion programs in emerging markets. 

The memorandum on the creation of the BRICS International Fashion Federation was signed by CEOs of fashion weeks, heads of fashion and textile associations, heads of educational institutions from India, South Africa, Russia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Spain, USA, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Tanzania, Jordan, Ecuador, Paraguay, Kenya, and other countries. Representatives of the countries participating in the Summit confirmed that cooperation with emerging fashion markets is a promising direction.

Moscow Deputy Mayor Natalya Sergunina said: “The creation of this International Federation is a major outcome of the recent BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow. It demonstrates once again the shared goals and substantial potential for growth that we have with our global colleagues.”

The BRICS+ Fashion Summit was held in Moscow from 3 to 5 October with representatives of over 100 countries. The BRICS+ Fashion Summit is the largest fashion event for emerging markets.

One of the main missions of the BRICS International Fashion Federation will be to strengthen and expand ties between fashion organisations in different countries. The Federation is not a closed organisation; on the contrary, its members welcome anyone who shares its principles and aspirations. However, an application to join the Federation will be required when the structure is formed and the website is launched.

The main points of the declaration are: supporting local talent, promoting sustainable fashion, strengthening cultural exchange and creating a common platform for emerging markets, and information and education projects. The countries also intend to pay great attention to the development of new technologies, the preservation of cultural codes, and supporting arts and crafts.

“We are committed to providing these visionaries with a global platform and local events to ensure their creative work is celebrated globally. Our goal is to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices, striving to implement transparent methodologies that will significantly reduce the fashion industry’s carbon footprint. Slow fashion, characterised by mindful consumption and production, will be at the heart of the BRICS International Fashion Federation agenda, as we strive to reduce the environmental impact of fashion,” the statement said.