The Federation Council Speaker held a meeting with members of the light-industry sector and creative industries as part of the forum’s events.
The meeting, which brought together parliamentarians, representatives from relevant ministries, industry associations and companies, as well as members of the scientific and expert community from Russia and the CIS countries, focused on growing the economy through light industry and creativity-driven industries.
In her welcoming address, the Federation Council Speaker and Chair of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Council Valentina Matvienko noted that St Petersburg had regained the status of a world fashion capital. “This year, the Commonwealth of Fashion Forum has gone beyond the borders of the CIS and Eurasia. It has brought together nearly 2,500 participants representing more than 30 countries.” She thanked the Secretariat of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Council, the Russian Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Russian Export Centre, and various industry and business associations.
“The world of fashion has become truly multipolar,” the Federation Council Speaker said. “As was noted on the sidelines of the Forum, the monopoly of Western brands is a thing of the past. That much is obvious. Meanwhile, designers and companies from the CIS, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, on the contrary, have gained new opportunities. In this environment, it is extremely useful for you — representatives of the light and textile industries, fashion, and creative sectors — to communicate and to exchange ideas, experience, and innovative approaches.”
According to her, the main purpose of the forum, now being held for the fourth time, is to establish international dialogue and to create a large cohesive community of professionals. “The forum’s programme includes numerous public and round table discussions, as well as workshops. For the first time, a business-matchmaking exchange has been organised. Importantly, agreements and business contracts are being signed at the forum, which will be followed by concrete business projects.”
Formats abound, the Speaker noted. The launch of an educational accelerator and the establishment of the Commonwealth of Fashion award came as this year’s innovation. As usual, a Youth Day featuring young and talented designers was held as part of the forum.
The forum’s emphasis on returning to the roots, to the national and cultural codes of the participating countries was its hallmark this time, she stressed. “Today, the trend is not to imitate, but to create original, authentic looks based on traditional concepts of beauty, elements of national costumes, and intangible cultural heritage. I would call that fashion sovereignty. We see that people happily buy domestically- produced clothing, footwear, and accessories.”
Traditional Russian female headpieces — kokoshniks — are coming back into everyday use in Russia, the Federation Council Speaker said. “President Vladimir Putin recently mentioned it. I’m sure similar patriotic fashion trends exist in every CIS country. Next year has been declared the Year of Unity of the Peoples in Russia. I believe this is another good reason to support national fashion and to promote traditional creativity.”
The creativity-driven industries in Russia have become a separate economic segment demonstrating record-high growth rates, she noted. “We pay very close attention to this sphere. Increasing the share of the creativity-driven industries is one of Russia’s national development goals. The Concept for Promoting Creativity-Driven Industries is being implemented. Last year, the Federal Assembly adopted a federal law to this end. A significant step forward was made when the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly adopted at its recent plenary session in Dushanbe a model law On Creativity-Driven Industries,” she said. To make Government decisions as popular and effective as possible, she added, it is extremely important to receive feedback from representatives of the creativity-driven economy.
An informal discussion took place during which industry representatives shared their ideas and proposals.
Chair of the Belarusian State Light Industry Concern (Bellegprom) Nadezhda Lazarevich spoke about current aspects of interaction and coordination in the light industry.
First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia Yelena Fastova highlighted the potential for developing wool-raw-material production in Russia.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Ivan Kulikov outlined government support measures for the sector.
Director General of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Svetlana Chupsheva spoke on “The creative development trajectory: How creative competencies and creativity-driven industries are transforming Russia’s light industry.”
“We see potential in several strategic areas. The first is niche brands with a strong and distinctive design identity, closely tied in with the cultural environment that shaped them. The second is intelligent fashion which includes functional clothing for severe weather, specialised uniforms — including military — and sports gear, where material quality and technological excellence are critically important,” Svetlana Chupsheva emphasised.
President of the Central Asian Designers’ Union, Republic of Uzbekistan, Kamola Gulyamova discussed achievements since the previous forum.
Director General of the Russian Export Centre (REC) Veronika Nikishina spoke on Fashion and Light Industry as Drivers of Exporting National Cultural Products.”
Founder of Tajikistan Fashion Week Tohir Ibragimov discussed cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation in developing the light industry and the fashion sector.
Rector of the Stroganov Russian State University of Arts and Industry Sergei Kurasov focused on training personnel for the fashion industry and integrating the traditions of Russian artistic training with modern market requirements.
During the open microphone session, President of the Vinzavod Foundation for Contemporary Art Sofia Trotsenko spoke about new horizons for the light-industry sector and creative clusters.
Director General of the Yelets Lace Folk Arts Factory Maria Karlina shared experiences of cooperation between light-industry enterprises and creativity-driven industries.
Member of the Committee on Labour and Social Policy and member of the Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Ties of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Nigar Mamedova noted that fashion plays a major role in shaping development trends for the future CIS space and the cultural and youth policies of member states.
Representing the women’s clothing industry of the Kyrgyz Republic Olesya Ladygina called for joining efforts, creating single quality standards, and forming a modern production culture across the Commonwealth countries.
According to Valentina Matvienko, all initiatives will definitely be taken into account in the parliamentary work. The Federation Council Speaker emphasised the effectiveness of the forum platform held by the Federation Council together with the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and supported by several line ministries and industry associations. She stated that the forum had become a strong integration tool, and a powerful cultural and economic mechanism of integration. “Cooperation between our countries pays off twice,” she said.
The ceremony for presenting the Commonwealth of Fashion award in the category For Contribution to International Cooperation” took place.
The winners included Vice President of the Association of Light Industry Enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan Inna Apenko; President of the Central Asian Designers’ Union Kamola Gulyamova; and founder of Fashion Group TZ and Tajikistan Fashion Week Tohir Ibragimov.