36th IAF World Fashion Convention

The theme of the IAF Convention is ‘Transition of the Global Fashion System’ with transition being the operative word. The theme recognizes the fact that the demand from societies and from consumers, the restraints posed by the earth’s ecosystem and the possibilities offered by technology converge to create a necessity for rapid change. The pandemic really pressed home the point that merely adapting is not enough in 2021. The massive demand crisis caused by the pandemic exacerbated the structural problems that were already visible, as witnessed by multiple bankruptcies of large established retailers and brands before the pandemic.

New successful companies based on entirely different business models shape the industry’s transition, as do existing companies embarking on bold programs of change. Technology, particularly digitalization, plays a key role, as does better buyer-supplier collaboration. Transition will not involve the industry alone but requires all in the entire fashion ecosystem to work together. It requires a good and close collaboration with governments, creating regulatory environments that are supporting transition without stifling entrepreneurial drive. Educational institutes are engines of transition not only by training new employees, but also by actively nurturing new business.