African fashion leaders will be among the participants at the fourth Brics+ Fashion Summit in Moscow from 28 to 30 September, with South African and other continental representatives joining discussions around international trade, designer mobility and collaboration across the Global South.
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The event has grown into a major meeting point for fashion businesses from fast-growing economies. Last season, it attracted more than 15,000 attendees and delegates from more than 60 countries.
Africa takes a bigger role
The 2026 programme features participants from across the African fashion industry, including representatives from South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Seychelles and South Sudan.
South Africa will be represented by Stephen Manzini, CEO of Soweto Fashion Week and the South African Fashion Association, and Colleen Eitzen, co-founder of retailer The Space.
African voices at the summit
Susan Sabet – board member and secretary general of the Egyptian Fashion & Design CouncilMahlet Teklemariam – Founder of Hub of Africa Fashion WeekHind Joudar – Founder and CEO of Maroc Fashion WeekNana Addo Tamakloe – Accra Fashion WeekBrian James Kihindas – Kenya Fashion CouncilMmantlha Sankoloba – CEO of Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers AssociationKalistu Ramos Mukoroli – Director of MTC Windhoek Fashion WeekTery Carola – CEO of Seychelles Fashion WeekDawson Deng – Co-founder and executive director of South Sudan Fashion WeekLooking beyond local markets
The three-day summit will give African brands and manufacturers an opportunity to meet counterparts from across the continent, as well as representatives from fashion businesses in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
For South African businesses, the event offers potential routes into other fast-growing markets, including opportunities for exports, partnerships and industry exchanges.
Some African participants have already begun developing connections through the forum. Botswana-based House of Ditso is exploring a potential presence in the Russian and CIS markets, while MTC Windhoek Fashion Week is in discussions with Moscow Fashion Week about a designer exchange programme.
Building connections across Africa
The summit has also provided a platform for African fashion week organisers to connect with one another.
Brian James Kihindas, director of Nairobi Fashion Week and a representative of the Kenya Fashion Council, hosted a meeting that brought together fashion week organisers from East, West, Southern and North Africa.
The meeting focused on the potential for greater collaboration between fashion weeks across the continent, particularly around trade, designer mobility, sponsorship, production and access to buyers.
“In Moscow, inspired by the broader Brics framework of multilateral cooperation, we made a collective decision: to build a unified umbrella body for African fashion week conveners,” says Kihindas.
“What started as a pivotal meeting in Moscow has evolved into an active, everyday network driven by our dedicated digital community hub: conveners regularly exchange insights on production standards, buyer acquisition, sponsor engagement, and event logistics suited for African markets.”
Fashion as a creative and economic force
Stephen Manzini, CEO of Soweto Fashion Week and the South African Fashion Association, returns to the summit for the 2026 edition.
He sees the event as an opportunity for African fashion businesses and creatives to connect with partners beyond the continent.
“The Brics+ Fashion Summit is a critical communication platform for emerging countries, especially for Africa. It provides a rare space where our voices, stories, and design philosophies are seen and respected on equal footing.”
“For African creatives, it’s a gateway to connect with like-minded partners from the Global South, share our cultural richness, and position fashion as both a creative and economic force.”
Moscow Fashion Week also returns
The Brics+ Fashion Summit will coincide with the latest season of Moscow Fashion Week, running from 26 September to 1 October 2026.
The programme will feature more than 70 runway shows by brands from more than 10 countries, with participating designers representing markets ranging from Türkiye and Sri Lanka to Spain and China.
