BRICS Fashion showcase to take place during Colombo Fashion Week for 1- 4 April

Summit Registrations Now Open

The BRICS international Fashion federation in collaboration with CFW presents the first South Asian Edition of the BRICS Fashion Summit in Colombo. Chosen for its strategic geo-political location and Colombo Fashion Week's (CFW) standing as a founding member of the BRICS International Fashion Federation. Sri Lanka's position as a bridge between South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the broader Indian Ocean region further underscores the Federation's commitment to deepening its presence across the globe's most dynamic emerging markets.

The BRICS International Fashion Federation, since its founding, has served as a powerful force in connecting fashion industries across some of the world's fastest-growing economies. By uniting creative communities, policy makers, and industry leaders under a shared vision, the Federation has created a framework for collaboration that transcends borders and opens doors for designers, manufacturers, and fashion entrepreneurs across member nations.

As a founding member of the BRICS International Fashion Federation, Colombo Fashion Week has played an important role in bridging the diverse fashion market in Sri Lanka and fostering creative dialogue across South Asia. This year the South Asian fashion platform marks its 23rd year and is one of only four fashion weeks in South Asia to have surpassed 20 years. This edition marks a significant milestone as CFW continues to cement its standing as a pivotal regional and international platform.

The BRICS Fashion Summit will take place during Colombo Fashion Week on April 3^rd at 11:00am at the City of Dreams Sri Lanka, bringing together a distinguished group of global fashion leaders, industry heavyweights, and creative entrepreneurs for a series of high-level discussions on the intersection of fashion, culture, and commerce across emerging economies. Leading the conversation as moderator is Mr. Shamindra Kulamannage, Editor of Echelon and Economy Next, one of Sri Lanka's most respected voices in business journalism. He will be joined on the panel by Mr. Alexander Shumsky, President of Russian Fashion Council and member of the board of BRICS International Fashion Federation, who has been instrumental in shaping fashion policy and creative exchange across BRICS nations; Mr. Rajesh Pratap Singh, one of India's most celebrated and internationally recognised designers, known for his masterful blend of craft and contemporary design; Mr. Kuan Kevin Feng, a leading figure from Beijing Fashion Week, representing China's rapidly expanding influence on the global fashion stage; Mr. Hasitha Premaratne, Managing Director of Brandix Group, one of South Asia's largest and most influential apparel conglomerates; and Mr. Rizwan Beyg, Pakistan's celebrated designer and craft revivalist, whose work has brought international attention to the subcontinent's rich artisanal traditions.

Together, the panel will examine whether the BRICS bloc offers tangible emerging market opportunities for both designers and apparel supply chains, how nations across BRICS and South Asia can leverage their deep cultural heritage as a driver of global fashion relevance, and what role South Asia is poised to play within the broader BRICS creative and commercial synergy. The summit promises to be a defining moment in positioning Colombo and the wider region at the centre of an increasingly significant global fashion conversation.

CFW Summer 26’ presented by Mastercard, is planned for 1–4 April at the City of Dreams Sri Lanka, Colombo. The BRICS Federation's designer exchange programme also continues this year, opening new markets and creative conversations for Sri Lankan talent on an international stage. This edition sees CFW mark a historic debut on the runway for countries such as South Africa and China, appearing on a Sri Lankan stage for the first time.  Featuring an exceptional lineup of over 30 designers, the edition brings together international participants part of the BRICS showcase including designers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and China who will take to the runway alongside celebrated Sri Lankan designers, making this one of the most globally represented editions in the platform's history. CFW's Emerging Designer initiative remains a cornerstone of the platform, providing a meaningful entry point for the next generation of design-based entrepreneurs. This season, eleven emerging designers will present collections, each supported through CFW's structured mentorship programme.

The BRICS Fashion Summit at CFW Summer 2026 signals Colombo's growing stature as a serious player in global fashion dialogue. With South Asia's cultural heritage, emerging market potential, and creative talent increasingly recognised on the world stage, the summit offers a defining platform for stakeholders from across the BRICS nations to shape the conversation around fashion's next frontier.