The Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council pointed out that the forum has significantly expanded its programme this year, including by holding Youth Day for the first time.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Inna Svyatenko and Secretary General and Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat Dmitry Kobitsky summed up the outcomes of the 3rd International Forum Commonwealth of Fashion, held at the Tauride Palace in St Petersburg.
During the closing plenary session, the Deputy Speaker underscored the significant expansion of this year’s forum programme, which included holding Youth Day for the first time. “Aspiring designers were able to engage with renowned fashion experts, participate in workshops, and showcase their collections,” she noted.
Inna Svyatenko highlighted that fashion is a creative endeavour designed to enhance comfort, celebrate individuality, and showcase beauty. She also noted that the forum demonstrated fashion’s broader impact, extending to other spheres of life. “For instance, fashion events can serve as a catalyst for boosting regional tourism potential,” she said.
The forum featured clothing designs from various countries, each reflecting unique cultural nuances. “Through this, we delve into the cultural code of our closest neighbours, fostering mutual understanding while preserving our cherished traditions,” Inna Svyatenko added.
The Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council highlighted the outcomes of discussions on innovative strategies for addressing personnel needs in the textile industry, the development of career guidance programmes, and the critical role of collaboration between manufacturers and educational institutions in evaluating the quality of training for young professionals. “CIS representatives shared their experiences in establishing educational clusters for secondary vocational education. For the first time, we explored the use of artificial intelligence in the textile industry,” she remarked.
Inna Svyatenko went on to stress the importance of addressing the role of government and investment support programmes within this CIS, as well as the impact of marketing strategies on the development of the textile industry. “The textile industry serves as a primary supplier of fabrics, wool, fur, knitwear, and leather for the fashion sector. The well-being of individuals and the health of our planet are closely tied to the quality and environmental safety of these products. Establishing effective recycling programmes is essential,” she said.
At the meeting, Director General of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Svetlana Chupsheva shared insights from the first comprehensive study on the development of creative industries in Russia, conducted by ASI in collaboration with the Higher School of Economics, Rosstat, and other partners. “In Russia, there are approximately 10,200 enterprises operating in the fashion industry. The market is experiencing rapid localisation of production and significant growth in Russian brands, which are successfully replacing the foreign companies that have exited,” she noted.
She also pointed out that the export volume of Russian fashion products has increased by 13.5 billion roubles over the past five years, reaching a total of 69 billion roubles. “The CIS market is a key export destination, accounting for over 80 percent of this volume,” she added.
Director General of the Russian Export Centre Veronika Nikishina spoke about the promising opportunities for Russian brands on the global stage. “There is significant interest in Russian fashion industry products. We already have success stories of domestic companies whose strong reputations in the local market have served as a foundation for promoting and popularising their products internationally under the Made in Russia umbrella brand. This interest extends not only to CIS countries but also to Southeast Asia,” she noted.
Natalya Manturova, Chief Plastic Surgeon At Large at the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Department of Health, highlighted the productive discussions, exchange of experiences, and innovative ideas that took place over the two days. “We focused extensively on topics connecting beauty and health. In today’s world, appearance is heavily influenced by trends, social media, and societal expectations. However, true perfection lies not only in external beauty but in the harmony of physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being,” she remarked.
During the plenary session, Anna Bogadelina, Director General of the Shuiskiye Sitsy Cotton Mill; Andrei Razbrodin, President of the Russian Union of Textile and Garment Industry Entrepreneurs; Dilbar Mukhamedova, Advisor to the Chairman of the Association of Textile, Garment, and Knitwear Industry Enterprises of Uzbekistan; and Takhir Ibragimov, founder of Tajikistan Fashion Week, shared their proposals.
At the conclusion of the 3rd International Forum Commonwealth of Fashion, participants adopted an outcome resolution.
Dmitry Kobitsky emphasised the need to broaden the forum’s scope. “In the future, we must invite not only designers, educators, and industry representatives but also delegates from relevant ministries, agencies, and associations,” he posited.