Global Fashion Summit Shanghai Gala advances sustainability dialogue at CIIE

This event, organised by Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) in partnership with Chinamind NEXT, brought together key stakeholders from the local and international fashion industry for an evening of discussions and networking at The St. Regis Shanghai Jingan hotel. 

The Shanghai Gala’s theme, ‘Unlocking the Next Level’, was developed based on the key take aways from the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition held in May.  

By staging the summit in Shanghai, a city known for its fusion of tradition and innovation, the event aimed to foster dialogue and international collaboration to drive sustainable practices within the fashion industry on a global scale.  

The evening featured presentations from speakers representing companies such as H&M Group, COACH, Chinamind NEXT, Piaget China, Décor Global, Target, Balian Group, and Erdos Cashmere Group, among others.  

Discussions covered topics such as ‘Circularity at Scale’, ‘Shaping Sustainable Retail’, and ‘Ambition to Action’. They focused on how to advance sustainability within the fashion supply chain and promote long-term change. 

GFA chief executive officer Federica Marchionni said: “The inaugural edition of Global Fashion Summit in China marked an evening of profound thought leadership, demonstrating the opportunity for the industry to convert ambitious goals into meaningful actions with ripple effects felt across communities and ecosystems worldwide.  

“In this new era, we are forging critical dialogues and alliances at the Summit, which we plan to build upon at our next Summit in Copenhagen next year.” 

Chinamind NEXT CEP Lynn Fu added: “It has sparked profound discussions among participants on the theme of Unlocking the Next Level. As the world’s largest consumer of apparel and textiles, China has a substantial impact on driving sustainable industry trends and cultivating consumers’ green preferences. When Chinese fashion companies and international brands collaborate more passionately on their sustainable visions, profound and enduring benefits for the industry will be delivered.” 

During the event, GFA also released The GFA Monitor 2024, a report designed to guide industry leaders towards achieving a net positive fashion industry.  

Launched ahead of COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November 2024, this year’s GFA report provides a streamlined update on significant advancements, ongoing challenges and opportunities within the sector. 

In addition, GFA revealed that the theme for the 2025 edition would be “Barriers and Bridges,” setting the stage for next year’s summit and discussions around overcoming obstacles and building connections in the pursuit of sustainability.  

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