CALL FOR DESIGNERS DIGITAL SHOWROOM - February - July 2021 - United Fashion

CALL FOR
DESIGNERS
DIGITAL
SHOWROOM

      February – July 2021

UNITED FASHION DIGITAL SHOWROOM 2021
               CALL FOR DESIGNERS
Within the framework of UNITED FASHION, the Belgian partners MAD Brussels and
Flanders DC are joining forces and invite you to participate in a digital showroom,
taking place from February 2021 until July 2021.

With this initiative the project partners want to anticipate on the shift in the fashion
industry accelerated by covid19 and give a selection of Europe’s finest innovative
and sustainable fashion brands the opportunity to test this platform and present
their collection to a selection of international buyers.

CHECKING ALL THE BOXES ?

1.    Innovative brand with a strong identity

We are looking for innovative fashion and accessories brands with a strong brand
and collection identity. The designers are required to have a minimum of one-year
existence and to show FW21/22 collections.

2.    Sustainable approach

The UF partner organisations are strongly convinced that a sustainable approach
to fashion is not an option anymore but a must for companies that want to make
an impact on issues that really matter today. Being socially-conscious is starting to
become an expectation for today’s consumers. The way consumers connect with
companies is changing. Today’s consumers want to feel an affinity with their favourite
businesses, based on shared ideals.

The digital showroom will take place during the final festival of UNITED FASHION,
that will focus on some current, sustainability challenges, tackled in conferences.
An exhibition will question the current value chain in the fashion industry in terms of
sustainability, overconsumption, and alternative business models.

Echoing the approach of the final festival, we are looking for business models
that have the potential to participate in the transformation of the fashion
industry.

Tell us how your brand is making the transition to sustainable fashion
(Local production, eco-responsible materials, transparency regarding the suppliers,
design for longevity, zero-waste patterns, upcycling…).

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU ?
The selected brands will be presented on the UNITED FASHION showroom page
for a period of 6 months with links to their personal brand pages. Each designer or
brand has the possibility to shape their page, to upload videos, campaign pictures
and news articles. The digital platform provides additional features such as the ex-
portation of line sheets and the possibility to organise e-meetings with buyers.

The organizer invites a selection of national and international buyers from known
multi-brand boutiques, e-commerce platforms and multidepartment stores.
Two commercial agents will be engaged to ensure that minimum 20 quali-
tative buyers matching the DNA of the designers, visit the digital showroom.
Scheduled appointments between buyers and designers will be set up.

This action is organized with the support of MAD Brussels, Flanders DC, HUB
Brussels and Creative Europe and is carried out by 7 organizations active in the
fashion sector all over Europe.

PARTICIPATION CRITERIA?
Eligibility criteria
•     Ready-to-wear and accessories collection to showcase abroad: Men/women;
•     Minimum of one-year professional experience;
•     Innovative DNA;
•     Strong and consistent communication;
•     Distribution brand vision + strategic export plan (clear vision on potential
      markets);
•     Campaign photos + pack shots of collection FW21/22 to present on digital
      platform; Videos are an asset.

Selection criteria

•     Brand & collection identity;
•     Quality of the presentation and communication material;
•     Product quality;
•     Sustainable approach is an asset.

TIMELINE ?
Mid-January: Campaign photos and pack shots of collection should be ready
Beginning of February 2021: Implementation of collections data on the
personal brand pages
End of February 2021: Start of the digital showroom

OFFER ?
•     A subscription to a well-known digital showroom platform for 6 months
      (February – July 2021);
•     Exposure to your potential international buyers;
•     A guarantee that minimum 20 qualitative buyers will visit the digital showroom;
•     Possibility to share with your own database of buyers;
•     Possibility to organize e-meetings with buyers;

FORMALITIES ?
1 December: Launch call
4 January: Call closes
Mid-January: Private announcement of finalists
20 January: Final deadline campaign photos and pack shots of collection.

SUBSCRIPTIONS ?
Fill in the form and submit your portfolio (via Wetransfer) to united.fashion@mad.brussels

Your application should be sent by the 4th of January 2021 at the latest.

UNITED FASHION
The United Fashion project is carried out by a cluster of 7 organizations active in
the fashion sector in Europe, namely : MAD - Home of Creators (BE), Flanders
DC (BE), ModaLisboa (PT), Baltic Fashion Federation (LV), Maisons de Mode (FR),
Fashion Weekend Skopje (MK), and Fashion Council Germany (DE).

The aim of this project supported by the Creative Europe programme of the EU
is to enhance the culture of fashion designers across Europe to be more business
minded and at enhancing their competitiveness internationally, without limiting their
creativity.

Through a number of international network events and transdisciplinary training
workshops, more than 150 fashion designers will have the opportunity to participate
by showcasing their collections, getting to know and understand several European
markets, developing new skills in fashion tech, sustainable fashion, production,
craftsmanship, business models etc. between 2017 and 2021.

www.united-fashion.eu
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IG - @unitedfashioneu