In 2022, twenty-five European institutions active in the fashion sector decided to join forces by establishing the European Fashion Alliance (EFA). Behind this initiative lies a shared ambition: to better organise cooperation at European level and to collectively influence the major transformations currently facing the sector.
The Alliance was established against a backdrop of profound change, characterised in particular by climate challenges, the transition towards more sustainable models, and the need to strengthen the position of European creativity within a globalised ecosystem. Inspired by the European Commission’s calls to strengthen the creative sector across the continent, the EFA positions itself as a platform for dialogue, coordination and representation for institutional players in the fashion industry.
Bringing together fashion councils, professional federations, promotional platforms, fashion weeks, as well as research and support organisations, the Alliance aims to share the knowledge, best practices and tools needed to support the sector’s development. Beyond peer-to-peer exchange, the EFA also intends to act as an intermediary with European policy-makers, to ensure the fashion sector’s voice is heard in public policies relating to sustainability, innovation and culture.
Wallonie-Bruxelles Design-Mode within the network
WBDM is a founding member of this European network alongside other major players in the sector. The agency has joined the Alliance with the aim of bridging the gap between European trends and the realities faced by the designers and fashion creators it supports.
In practical terms, WBDM’s presence within the EFA enables it to convey the needs, challenges and specific circumstances of French-speaking Belgian professionals in discussions at European level. It also opens up new prospects for international cooperation: joint projects, exchanges of best practice, participation in European initiatives and collective reflection on the economic and creative models of the future.
For WBDM, this involvement is in line with its core objectives: to support the development and internationalisation of designers, to promote their visibility beyond national borders, and to strengthen their integration into key networks. Through the European Fashion Alliance, the agency is thus contributing to a collective dynamic, whilst ensuring that designers from Wallonia-Brussels can, in the long term, benefit from the tangible outcomes of this work at European level.
Here in Belgium, we are convinced of the strength of unity, both in terms of deploying our skills and our actions, and in making our voice heard further afield. – Laure Capitani