Fashion 360°. Development of Related Industries

The fashion industry, being a powerful driver of economic development, creates a multiplier effect for the BRICS countries, stimulating related industries — from textile production and logistics to digital technologies and creative industries. For example, in India and China, local fashion clusters have become centers of investment attraction, providing up to 5% of GDP and millions of jobs, while Brazil and South Africa use fashion as a tool of soft power, promoting ethnic brands to global markets. However, dependence on imported raw materials and competition within the BRICS (Chinese fast fashion vs. Indian handloom) requires enhanced cooperation — the creation of common sustainability standards, logistics hubs and joint brands in order to transform fashion from an industry of national importance into an economic integration tool of the alliance.

• How can the BRICS countries find a balance between developing national brands and integrating into global chains?
• Are there possible joint BRICS projects to create alternative sources of textile raw materials (organic cotton, biodegradable materials)?
• Technological sovereignty: How artificial intelligence and digitalization are changing competitive advantages in fashion (example: Chinese trend forecasting algorithms vs. Indian handicraft traditions)?
• Infrastructure projects: Can BRICS create an analogue of the "textile Silk Road" — a system of logistics hubs to accelerate trade turnover?