BRICS+ Fashion Summit: A Global Stage for Emerging Brands

The BRICS+ Fashion Summit, a massive forum on the crossroads of culture, business and sustainability that brought together people from 60 countries was held in Moscow last week. The BRICS is the global alliance of emerging markets, which was originally created by Brazil, Russia India and China. This year it got an extension with Argentina, Saudi Arabia Egypt and other countries. Representatives of these countries sent their fashion elite to Russia to showcase the best talents and share thoughts on how emerging brands could be streamlined globally.

Attendees of the BRICS+ Fashion Summit had the unique chance to witness the unveiling of new fashion collections from brands hailing from South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia in a single event. Brilliant fashion designers from countries as varied as India, China, Brazil, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, Serbia, and Indonesia showcased their forward-looking designs. These previously undiscovered fashions are ready to captivate industry professionals worldwide. Let’s dive into the most mesmerizing showcases of the BRICS+ Fashion Summit.

David Tlale

The notable South African designer David Tlale started the event with an unconventional runway show. Models showcased his designs all at once on the catwalk, giving the audience an opportunity to fully absorb each look individually. Tlale brought a dazzling new collection to Moscow, featuring a mix of both casual and formal attire. The pieces were besieged with vivid prints, engaging the audience with multiple layers, intricate cuts, and extraordinary dimensions. Tlale’s prowess extends to both women’s and men’s fashion and he cleverly combines sequinned transparent lace with tight corsets and puffed-up blouses with bows for men, while dressing women in multilayered, full-length gowns adorned with eye-catching prints, most of which were monochrome black this time around.

In Tlale’s own words, “The brand’s inception was driven by an authentic passion for fashion, apparel, and entrepreneurship, evolving into a dedication to advocating for South African textile and clothing within the global fashion community. My creative inspiration springs from a variety of sources, including music, travel, public attire observation, and even the layered textures and colors found in the clothing of homeless individuals. These situations, viewed through the lens of design and creativity, combined with my personal experiences and moods, further enrich my creative process.”

SADAELS

Drawing inspiration from his diverse Argentine-Belgian roots, designer Juan Hernandez Daels unveiled his tribute to the female physique. The new SADAELS collection revisits and rejuvenates the staple trends of the 2000s that are making a comeback; figure-hugging dresses, subtly elegant macramé tops, hip-revealing pants, ultra-mini skirts, and backless blouses.

Kunjina

Ethiopian designer Kunjina Tesfaye put forth her vision of a contemporary woman’s wardrobe. The central tenet of her brand KUNJINA is ‘Get closer to yourself.’ Tesfaye is convinced that feminine silhouettes, highlighting the body’s curves, harmonize seamlessly with industrial-style suits. She frequently leans into asymmetry, architectural design, and pastel hues. Her latest collection includes belted suits, off-the-shoulder dresses, and chic jumpsuits in sandy tones, crafted with diverse textures.

Indian Four

The BRICS+ Fashion Summit granted attendees a deeper understanding of current Indian fashion, showcasing the works of several Indian designers. While every designer presented distinctive styles, they all embodied the same essence. KHANIJO unveiled a collection of menswear that married global trends with traditional Indian influences. Meanwhile, Naushad Ali’s modern, everyday wear line, Shruti Sancheti’s authentic everyday looks and Ritesh Kumar’s true reflection of Indian fashion, combining traditional Indian wear elements with current global fashion trends, added richness to the Indian fashion display. The latter was influenced by Kumar’s training in Italy and was animated by live music and singing, inspired by Indian cultural motifs.

Gaurav Khanijo states, “We produce all our textiles in-house. We shun machinery; our clothes are strictly handmade, ensuring high-quality details. The BRICS+ Fashion Summit provides a fresh platform for us to display our work. Contemporary fashion is global, and it’s inspiring to see how other designers incorporate materials from their homelands.”

Lucas Leao

Concluding the BRICS+ Fashion Summit was Brazilian designer Lucas Leão. Known for his facile utilization of architectural forms, he paraded models down the runway in contemporary, minimalist garments, predominantly in crisp whites and soft pastels. Both men and women wore monochrome outfits, in which simple, eloquent silhouettes echoed various sculptural forms. Leão is a master of draping techniques – his deceptively straightforward garments come alive as the models stride, particularly his stunning tops that resemble more works of art than clothing and the grand final dress, which shattered traditional fashion boundaries, both astoundingly memorable.