Fashion industry innovations and sustainability discussions at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow, highlighting AI and upcycling.

The BRICS+ Fashion Summit, taking place in Moscow from Aug. 28 to 30 at the Zaryadye Concert Hall, is bringing together designers, industry leaders, and creatives from over 60 countries. Over 65 designers from Moscow and across Russia are participating, including those from the Made in Moscow project, an initiative that supports local brands.

Designers are representing cities as far apart as Vladivostok in the far east and Arkhangelsk in the north. The aim of the summit is to spotlight emerging fashion markets and foster cross-cultural collaboration.

The event offers a multifaceted program that includes runway shows, expert lectures, a fashion market, a business showroom, and the World Fashion Shorts film festival. One of the panel discussions, titled "Creative originality vs. AI: What is important for the consumer," explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping the fashion industry. Maria Shevchenko, creative director of 3D Couture, was one of the panelists in the discussion.

Sustainability is a key focus of the summit, with the session "Closed-loop fashion: How to sew, wear, and regenerate" addressing the environmental impact of fast fashion. Saturday's program includes the session "Her rules: Women are the creators of the fashion industry," spotlighting the growing influence of women as leaders in the Russian market.

The panel "Anti-trends in education: What to unlearn in fashion" addresses the evolution of fashion education in response to industry shifts toward AI, 3D design, and sustainability, and the rising demand for cross-disciplinary skills. The session "From gloss to mass market: How styling helps sell" examines the evolving role of stylists as visual storytellers and brand strategists, particularly in the social media space.

An upcoming panel, titled "Market privileges: How to attract investors to the fashion industry," will explore strategies for drawing investment into the sector. The event also features panel discussions, exhibitions, and educational events.

The BRICS+ Fashion Summit is taking place alongside Moscow Fashion Week, which runs through Sept. 2, providing a platform for designers to showcase their collections to a global audience. The Moscow Fashion Week Market, a public-facing retail space, offers visitors the opportunity to shop for exclusive clothing, footwear, and accessories created by designers from around 20 Russian cities.

While specific details about the designers and fashion companies from which countries participating in the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow in August 2021 are not available, the event is expected to provide valuable insights into the global fashion industry and its future direction. Shevchenko stated that AI helps in fashion by speeding up operations and avoiding mistakes. The session "From logos to meaning: How to build a cultural brand" explores how branding is shifting in an era of digital saturation, focusing on cultural relevance, shared values, and community-building.

Fashion industry innovations and sustainability discussions at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow, highlighting AI and upcycling.