On Friday, Alexander Shumsky, the president and co-founder of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia, announced the launch of the Russian Fashion Council.
"We have a lot of designers, but their business is very, very tiny," Shumsky said at a roundtable discussion with the press on Friday, according to Fashionista.com.
"The idea is to teach them and promote them and help them to do business. A lot of designers are surviving from show to show."
The council aims to bring together Russian fashion designers with local manufacturers and experts to further develop the fashion business in Russia. A press statement compares it to other "national fashion councils" in "key fashion markets," according to Fashionista.com.
Participating Russian designers include Slava Zaitsev, the RFC's honorary president, Alena Akmadullina, Julia Dalakian, Daria Yadernaya, the head of Russia's leading textile and apparel consulting company, Esper Group, Elena Kuletskaya, MBFW's program director, and other local industry leaders.
No specifics about the actual program were announced. According to Shumsky, "if you give cash to young designer, he will fly to [the] Maldives," so it is very unlikely that the program will involve a fund for upcoming designers.
However, the council will be working with Russia's Ministry of Trade to ensure easy international export of the goods. Inevitably, Americans are likely to see more Russian designers in local stores as a result.
The RFC has also launched a program that will allow a select group of Russian designers to show their collections in Milan, offering a cohesive show format and exposure to international press and buyers that they wouldn't get in Moscow.
Last week, it was announced that the city of Dubai would also launch a Design and Fashion Council to promote international trade among a diverse group of designers.Also read here:vintage prom dresses uk
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