LONDON- February 19th, 2018
The Arab Fashion Council (AFC), the world’s largest non-profit fashion council representing the 22 Arabic countries members of the Arab League announces today a multi-year partnership with The British Fashion Council (BFC).
This partnership, which will see the BFC become a Strategic Development Partner of the Arab Fashion Council has two main aims; to deliver a growth strategy for the fashion industry within the GCC region and to provide a gateway into the region for British and International brands without a foothold there currently.
“We are delighted to be working with AFC who represent an incredibly important market for British fashion designers. We are looking forward to developing a strategy for brands and businesses looking to expand into the Arabic countries through this collaboration with AFC, who are experts in this field. The British Fashion Council’s role in this partnership is to share their expertise in setting up infrastructure to nurture and discover Arabic design talent of the future”
CAROLINE RUSH, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council
The partnership is the foundation of a long-term strategy to establish a sustainable fashion infrastructure in the Arab World, harnessing design, manufacturing, retail, commerce, and education, positioning the region as a key strategic hub cementing the fashion industry as a key pillar for the creative economies in the region.
“This important partnership will support the Arab Fashion Council in achieving its ambition to unite a sustainable fashion system for the Arab World. With the counsel and expertise of the British Fashion Council, the AFC will nurture and promote the talent resource from the region and strategically reinforce the GCC as an important economic hub for the International fashion industry”.
JACOB ABRIAN, Founder & Chief Executive, The Arab Fashion Council
As part of the Council’s regional expansion, in December 2017, the AFC announced the opening of its regional office in Riyadh and created history by organizing the first fashion week in the history of Saudi Arabia.
“We are pleased to form a strategic alliance between the Arab Fashion Council and the British Fashion Council. This reflects the global interest in our vision to transform the fashion and retail sector in Saudi Arabia into both a regional and global destination. This can only happen by stimulating local and regional industry, by encouraging trade exchange and global business in line with the Vision 2030, as our gateway to a future that reflects the cultural image of Saudi Arabia and its people”.
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Notes to Editors:
The British Fashion Council (BFC) was set up in 1983 to promote British fashion internationally and co-ordinate this promotion through fashion weeks, exhibitions and showcasing events. The BFC now supports designers beginning at the college level and extending to talent identification, business support and showcasing schemes to help British designer businesses develop their profiles and business globally and promote British fashion and its influential role in Britain and London. The BFC Colleges Council offers support to students through its Foundation, BA and MA scholarships, links with industry through design competitions and Graduate Preview Day. Talent identification and business support schemes include BFC Fashion Film; BFC Rock Vault; BFC Headonism; BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund; BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and NEWGEN. The BFC supports Boden’s Future British initiative. The BFC also runs and owns charities including the BFC Fashion Arts Foundation, the BFC Fashion Trust and the BFC Education Foundation. Showcasing initiatives and events include London Fashion Week, London Fashion Week Men’s, LONDON show ROOMS, International Fashion Showcase, London Fashion Week Festival and the annual celebration of excellence in the fashion industry: The Fashion Awards.