Russia launches its own fashion council

Russia has launched its own fashion council, similar to the national fashion councils operated in key fashion markets such as the British Fashion Council in the UK and the CFDA in America, to support its future talent.

Announced at Russian Fashion Week, which is held biannually in Moscow, by president and co-founder of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia, Alexander Shumsky, the council will bring together Russian fashion designers, manufacturers and educational experts who are actively involved in the development of the fashion business in Russia, as it looks to join the “top-tier” fashion markets.

The principal purposes of the council will be to “support and develop the Russian fashion industry”, by assisting Russian manufacturers and fashion designers. In turn the council will also assist in boosting the Russian fashion industries social profile, as well as promote Russian fashion designers domestically and globally.

The council will be lead by well-known Russian fashion designer Slava Zaitsev, who was elected honorary president of the Russian Fashion Council, as well as Shumsky, who was appointed executive president of the council.

Russian Fashion Council launches at MBFW Russia

Other key fashion industry people involved includes Russian designers Alena Akhmadullina, Lena Karnauhova, and Julia Dalakian; as well as industry experts Daria Yadernaya, the head of Esper Group, Russia's leading textile and apparel consulting company, MBFW's program director Elena Kuletskaya, general director of Ufimsky Trikotazh Zukhra Ismailova, Rector of Moscow Institute of Arts and Industry Alexey Egorov, and the president of the Russian Public Relations Association Stanislav Naumov.

The council also announced that it would be launching numerous projects and activities that will assist in promoting collections and public campaigns for achievements in Russian fashion, however, no specific projects were confirmed. It also stated that it was developing fashion education programs to support young talents, and that one of the 2015 projects is to launch a Russian Fashion Contest for emerging designers to help expand their talents commercially.

Image: Ma Ya show at MBFW Russia