21 Jun 2022

A strong new network of fashion organisations with the aim of uniting and transforming the European fashion landscape.

The first true transnational alliance of European fashion councils and fashion institutions is being formed by 25 European fashion organisations with the aim of promoting a thriving, sustainable and inclusive European fashion ecosystem. During a two-day summit in Frankfurt am Main at the end of March 2022, Fashion Council Germany brought together the leading European fashion organisations to form a coalition of change with the support of Messe Frankfurt and its global Texpertise network.

Inspired by the words of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, who called for the strengthening of the fashion industry at European level, the alliance aims to be a strong common voice advocating and accelerating the transition of European fashion towards a more sustainable, innovative and inclusive creative future.

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With the Frankfurt Agreement, the European fashion organisations have decided to join this new industry coalition and jointly develop an active and reactive strategy for the necessary transformation of the industry in the coming months.

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The alliance was created to strengthen and expand a new network of councils and institutions to develop a common understanding of practical goals on how the fashion industry and its diverse actors, support organisations and indirectly SMEs and large companies and professionals can work together to transform the industry and better protect the planet and all its inhabitants. With this alliance, the European fashion organisations, representing a large and unique part of the fashion industry, aim to jointly strengthen European fashion on a sustainable, inclusive, innovative and enabling level and accelerate the translation of these goals into realistic actions and policy recommendations.

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With this unique network of European fashion councils, funding bodies, incubators and clusters, the new alliance not only aims to exchange, educate and research market knowledge, contacts and best practices, but also to advocate for a successful future at European level with various economic, political and social actors.

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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 global network and globally valued expertise in the international textile business, currently includes 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 and mission during a panel discussion.

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EFA members invite other like-minded organisations to support their mission and goal of creating a better future by joining the alliance. The next European Fashion Alliance Summit will take place during Gran Canaria Swim Week by Mode Cálida from 18 to 21 October 2022.

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Members of the European Fashion Alliance:

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Asociación Creadores De Moda de España (Spain)

Austrian Fashion Association (Austria)

Baltic Fashion Federation (Lettland)

Bulgarian Fashion Association (Bulgaria)

Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana (Italy)

Copenhagen Fashion Week (Denmark)

Council for Irish Fashion Designers (Ireland)

Estonian Academy of Arts (Estland)

Fashion Council Germany (Germany)