The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Role of Fashion in BRICS+: How Fashion Drives Economic Growth in Emerging Economies

Fashion in BRICS+ is transforming into a real economic energizer, which is changing the global retail expansion, innovation, cultural identity, and trade partnerships of rapidly developing emerging markets.

Fashion in BRICS+ as an Emerging Economic Force

The fashion in BRICS+ has gone a long way from being a mere cultural expression; it is now the primary instrument of economic growth, the source of new jobs, the vehicle for technological progress, and the promoter of international cooperation. The global fashion scene is changing dramatically as BRICS+ moves beyond the original five members, i.e., Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These rapidly developing economies are using fashion as a tool to gain global influence, raise the level of foreign investment, facilitate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and nurture the creative sectors of their economies.

With the advent of the middle-class consumer and the rise of digital marketplaces along with the adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices, fashion in BRICS+ is in a position to bring about a massive transformation of the apparel and luxury markets on a global scale thus putting up a strong challenge to the long-standing dominators, i.e., Western brands.

Fashion in BRICS+: An Economic Growth Strategy

The BRICS+ countries combined are home to over 40% of the world's population and that includes a rapidly growing middle class that is very eager for lifestyle-related, luxury, and culturally relevant fashion. The fashion sector performs a strategically crucial function in:

Increasing GDP contribution

Supporting manufacturing and exports

Expanding creative industries

Attracting foreign direct investment

Advancing innovation and sustainability

Fashion is a symbol as well as an instrument of economic diversification, on which the BRICS+ nations rely as they deepen their integration into the global trade systems.

Industrial Manufacturing and Value Chain Development One of the major aspects of fashion in BRICS+ is large-scale apparel production. The likes of China, India, Russia, and South Africa are, to a great extent, leaders in textiles and garment manufacturing. BRICS+ adds new members from the Middle East and Africa and, as a result, it obtains new advantages such as:

Africa offers the labor supply and the availability of raw materials including cotton, leather, and natural fibers.

Asia brings infrastructure, supply chain maturity, and technological capacity to the table.

In the end, this makes BRICS+ a robust integrated fashion ecosystem with the capacity to compete on a global level with the European Union and North America.

Fashion as Cultural Influence and Soft Power

Besides economics, fashion in BRICS+ plays a major role in cultural diplomacy. Every member country boasts a distinctive fashion identity - from Brazilian beachwear and Indian textiles to Chinese luxury heritage and Middle Eastern couture.

By showcasing local heritage, textile craftsmanship, and traditional art, BRICS+ member countries are not only regaining their cultural independence but also becoming less dependent on Western fashion narratives. This cultural strategy works by:

Increasing tourism

Boosting exports of artisanal goods

Strengthening national branding

Supporting fashion education and creative careers

Fashion weeks in different regions such as São Paulo, Shanghai, Delhi, Johannesburg, Riyadh, and Dubai are rapidly elevating their status worldwide, thus becoming the preferred destination for designers, investors, and international press.

Digital Innovation and the Future of E-Commerce

Another area that has witnessed rapid growth due to fashion in BRICS+ is digital transformation. The BRICS+ countries are putting their money into the following projects:

Artificial intelligence (AI) for design and forecasting

Virtual showrooms and Metaverse fashion

E-commerce and cross-border online retail

Blockchain for supply transparency

Both China and India are at the forefront of e-commerce innovation, as evident from the presence of the platforms Temu, Shein, Flipkart, Jumia, and Noon that are expanding global digital fashion trade. On the other hand, Dubai and Riyadh are investing in fashion tech hubs that will revolutionize luxury retail through Web3, augmented reality, and smart supply chains.

Empowering Small and Medium-Sized Fashion Enterprises The bulk of the fashion in BRICS+ is drawn from SMEs and independent designers. These enterprises are the recipients of:

Government grants and creative financing

Local manufacturing access

Export facilitation programs

Trade partnerships within BRICS+ zones

By providing small businesses with the necessary support, the pace at which new jobs are being created will accelerate, thus the fashion sector will become a strong instrument of social development and a source of inclusive economic growth. Educated youth, specially young women, will benefit more than anyone else from the new job opportunities that the fashion industry will generate.

Sustainability and Ethical Fashion in BRICS+

One of the major concerns which led to the birth of the concept of sustainable fashion has become a top priority for BRICS+ as they have to deal with environmental responsibility. Many of the member countries are introducing circular textile solutions, organic fiber farming, and recycling systems.

Such examples are:

Organic cotton initiatives in India and Africa

Eco-textile research in China and Russia

Sustainability enhances global competitiveness and helps to bring BRICS+ industries in line with international climate change agreements.

Fashion Tourism and Luxury Market Expansion Fashion tourism is rapidly becoming one of the most influential sectors in BRICS+. Major events such as Dubai Fashion Week and China Fashion Week attract thousands of foreign visitors. Luxury malls, shopping districts, and cultural retail hubs not only fuel up the tourism economy but also, in a way, help countries to position themselves as global style destinations.

The Middle Eastern members most notably Dubai, are practically operating as major global fashion retail marketplaces, thus linking Africa and Asia to European brands on the one hand and, on the other, backing the rise of BRICS+ luxury labels that are at the early stage of their development.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Though the fashion in BRICS+ grows at a fast pace, there are still several strategic issues that single out, to mention a few: - Protection of intellectual property rights - Consistency of quality and brand trust - High logistics-related costs - Uneven digital adoption - Lack of global recognition for emerging designers Nonetheless, the opportunities are more than the challenges. By 2035, the BRICS+ group can become one of the greatest fashion and retail blocs globally if the expansion of textiles, sustainable materials, digital fashion, and inter-regional trade agreements keeps on progressing.

Fashion in BRICS+ Will Shape the Next Era of Global Style and Trade

Fashion in BRICS+ is a vibrant blend of different elements that include culture, technology, manufacturing prowess, and consumer power. With cooperation, innovation, and local creativity as their main pillars, BRICS+ economies are actually the ones who will be setting the trends for the next phase of global fashion evolution.

The fashion in BRICS+ is bound to keep expanding its influence, as a result of increased demand, strategic cooperation, and a shared vision of economic diversification. This, in turn, will have a massive impact on the fashion industry worldwide apart from the economic future of the emerging markets which will also be changed ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌radically.