European Fashion Alliance was created by 25 European fashion institutions in Frankfurt

Berlin, 21 June 2022. The first real transnational European Fashion Alliance of European fashion councils and institutions is founded by 25 European fashion organizations aiming to empower a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive European fashion ecosystem. During a two-day summit in Frankfurt at the end of March 2022, Fashion Council Germany brought together the most leading European fashion organisations to form a coalition of change, with the support of Messe Frankfurt and its global Texpertise Network.

(Photo Credit: Frank Baumhammel for Fashion Council Germany)

Inspired by the words of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth calling for the reinforcement of the fashion industry on European level, the Alliance aims to be a strong common voice advocating for and accelerating the transition of European fashion towards a more sustainable, innovative and inclusive creative future.
With the Frankfurt Agreement, the European fashion organisations decided to join this new industry coalition and the intention to develop collectively an active and reactive strategy for the industry’s need to change in the next months.

The European Fashion Alliance is created to strengthen and enlarge a new network of councils and institutions to develop a common understanding of practical objectives of how the fashion industry and its multiple actors, support organisations and indirectly SMEs and large companies and professionals, can collectively help to transform the industry and protect the planet and all its inhabitants better. With this European Fashion Alliance, the European fashion organisations who are representing a large and unique part of the fashion industry, aim collectively to reinforce European fashion on a sustainable, inclusive, innovative and promotional level and to accelerate the translation of these objectives into realistic actions and policy recommendations.

With this one-of-a-kind network of European fashion councils, promotion institutions, incubators and clusters the new Alliance aims not only to share, educate and research market knowledge, contacts and best practices but also to advocate at European level with different economic, political and social stakeholders for a prosperous future.

Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, stated in her opening speech at the Frankfurt summit on 23rd of March 2022: “Fashion is a key industry for creative design. I know that you have come together today, to discuss amongst others, the possibility of creating the European Fashion Alliance. I personally think this is a brilliant idea. See me as a facilitator and count on my support.”

‘The European Fashion Alliance recognises the power of collaboration in contributing to a sustainable future for fashion - influencing policy, championing innovation and protecting skills - with significant benefits for European economies and global society’. Eddie Shanahan, Council of Irish Fashion Designers

“With global market leadership in textile fairs and together with our international partners, we can really make a difference for the important issues of our industry and for our society. I am pleased that the founding initiative for more responsible business in the fashion and textile sector at European level has taken root in Frankfurt. Messe Frankfurt will continue to be a reliable value-creating and unifying partner for this alliance, and everybody involved.” Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies of Messe Frankfurt

“The fashion industry needs a deep transformation and through this alliance we all join forces to achieve a more sustainable, circular, innovative and competitive European fashion industry. Bulgarian Fashion Association is happy to be a part of it and work also for the popularization of Bulgarian fashion designers and brands on a European and world level.” Silvia Kabaivanova, Chairman of Bulgarian Fashion Association.

The first summit in March was supported by Messe Frankfurt, the world’s leading organiser of textile trade fairs. Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network, a combination of a global network and expertise in the international textile business held in high regard worldwide, currently comprises 60 international events for the entire textile sector including the segments of Apparel Fabrics & Fashion, Interior & Contract Textiles, Technical Textiles & Textile Processing, and Textile Care. Today the European fashion alliance is using this international platform to present its vision & mission during a panel talk.

The European Fashion Alliance members invite other similar mindset organizations to support its mission and ambition to create a better future by joining the alliance. The next summit of the European Fashion Alliance will take place during Gran Canaria Swim Week by Mode Cálida from the 18th till 21st of October 2022.

Members of the European Fashion Alliance: 
Asociación Creadores De Moda de España (Spain), https://creadores.org/
Austrian Fashion Association (Austria), https://www.austrianfashionassociation.at
Baltic Fashion Federation (Latvia), https://bffederation.com
Bulgarian Fashion Association (Bulgaria), https://www.bgfa.eu/
Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana (Italy), https://www.cameramoda.it/
Copenhagen Fashion Week (Denmark), https://copenhagenfashionweek.com/
Council for Irish Fashion Designers (Ireland), https://irishfashiondesigners.com/
Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia)https://dima.artun.ee/  
Fashion Council Germany (Germany); https://www.fashion-council-germany.org/
Fédération de la Haute Couture de la Mode (France), https://fhcm.paris/fr/
Fédération Français du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin (France), https://pretaporter.com/
Flanders DC (Belgium), https://www.flandersdc.be/en
Icelandic Fashion Council (Iceland) , www.fatahonnunarfelag.is
Global Fashion Agenda, https://globalfashionagenda.org/
Gran Canaria Moda Cálida (Spain), https://www.grancanariamodacalida.com/
MODA-FAD (Spain), https://www.fad.cat/moda-fad/en
Modesuisse (Switzerland), https://www.modesuisse.com/
Modalisboa (Portugal), https://www.modalisboa.pt
Norwegian Fashion Hub (Norway), https://www.norwegianfashionhub.com
Slovak Fashion Council, (Slovakia), https://slovakfashioncouncil.sk/
Swedish Fashion Council (Sweden), https://www.swedishfashioncouncil.se/
Finnish Textile & Fashion (Finland), https://www.stjm.fi/
Taskforce Fashion (Netherlands), https://taskforcefashion.nl/
The Prince’s Foundation (UK), https://princes-foundation.org/
Wallonie Bruxelles Design Mode (Belgium), https://www.wbdm.be

If you are interested in an interview or further information, please contact:

Press contact:
press@europeanfashionalliance.org  
www.europeanfashionalliance.org