Global Fashion Summit for the first time in China

Global Fashion Summit, the international forum for sustainable fashion rooted in Denmark, will be hosted in China next month. The special Global Fashion Summit: Shanghai Gala edition will take place on 7 November 2024 during the China International Import Expo (CIIE). The event, presented by Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) and Chinamind NEXT, will bring together local and international industry stakeholders for an evening of informative discussions during a celebratory gala dinner.

Convening major decision-makers from across the world, Global Fashion Summit was first launched by GFA in Copenhagen in 2009. In the 15 years since its inception, it has become a nexus for agenda-setting discussions and presentations on the most critical environmental, social and ethical issues facing our industry and planet, all intended to spark urgent action and accelerate impact in the industry.

As the first event of its kind in China, the Global Fashion Summit: Shanghai Gala content will build on the theme of June’s Copenhagen Edition - "Unlocking The Next Level". With deadlines for sustainability targets looming, fashion finds itself at a critical juncture. Unlocking the next level of impact requires new depths of collaborative action and sharing of evidence-based progress to overcome barriers.

China plays a critical role in unlocking this transformation. China was the world’s largest exporter of readymade garments in 2023, with a 31.6 per cent market share and exports worth 165 billion USD. The soaring growth of Chinese ultra-fast fashion brands is also significantly shaping consumer purchasing practices, meanwhile, China’s luxury market has almost doubled since in 2019. Global Fashion Summit: Shanghai Gala will therefore aim to promote collaboration across the fashion industry's value chain, highlight pressing environmental and social issues, bridge differences between global markets, eliminate information gaps, and share innovative solutions.

The gala dinner will set the scene ahead of GFA’s participation in CIIE (China International Import Expo) on 8 November 2024 - a forum renowned for its focus on sustainable innovation technology. Federica Marchionni, CEO, GFA, will deliver a keynote address during the CIIE to an audience of esteemed leaders that will showcase how innovation and emerging technologies can drive sustainability in lifestyle sectors and advance the industry towards climate goals.