Moscow is gearing up to host the prestigious BRICS+ Fashion Summit from August 28 to 30, a key event for the burgeoning fashion industry. This year, the focus is on the Middle East, with top industry leaders and influential figures from the region’s biggest fashion weeks in attendance. Delegates from the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Iraq, and Lebanon will showcase their latest projects and engage in pivotal discussions.
Shirene Rifai, founder and CEO of Jordan Fashion Week and a seasoned participant in the BRICS+ Fashion Summit, was recently recognized as one of the top five fashion leaders in the Middle East by Forbes Middle East. With a robust background in luxury consulting, Shirene is a respected name in the region.
“The 2024 edition was particularly notable for its enhanced connections, richer dialogues, and a genuine sense of community among participants. Many of the individuals I’ve met here have become true collaborators and friends. Signing the BRICS International Fashion Federation in 2024 was a significant achievement. I hope we can transition from inspiration to action, facilitating exchanges, fostering joint opportunities, and developing a clear action plan for future steps,” Shirene remarked.
Another prominent voice at the Summit is Senan Kamel, founder of Baghdad Fashion Week and head of the Baghdad Organization for Arts and Culture. For Iraq, where the fashion scene is rapidly evolving, Kamel sees the Summit as a crucial platform to showcase the industry’s potential.
“For countries like Iraq, an untapped and raw territory in the fashion world, such summits highlight key investment opportunities and open avenues for collaboration, shaping a new creative economy. These events help revise global fashion narratives by incorporating diverse and emerging voices,” he stated.
Other distinguished attendees include Mohamad El Saghir, founder of Doha Fashion Show, dedicated to advancing Qatar’s and the Middle East’s fashion industry; Sarah Hermez, founder of Creative Space Beirut; and François Schweitzer, general merchandising manager of Etoile Group.
Middle Eastern fashion, celebrated for its elegance and subtlety, is increasingly influencing global trends. The BRICS+ Fashion Summit serves as a prime venue to present modest fashion to an international audience and highlight the expanding influence of the Middle East in global fashion.
This year’s summit will include representatives from 65 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the USA. The business programme, lectures, showroom, and runway events promise a diverse and dynamic schedule. Concurrently, from August 28 to September 2, Moscow Fashion Week will feature designers from 10 countries, including India, China, the USA, Turkey, and Brazil.
