By Tirzah Rezende
Last Friday, June 7, 2024, the MOLA Fashion Day International was successfully held, an 8-hour online training that stood out as a must-attend event for sustainable fashion at an international level. Professionals from the sector, previously selected through a public application process, met virtually to discuss and learn about the challenges and advances in the industry, turning the meeting into a key platform for knowledge sharing.
The event's focus on topics such as circular economy, local production and effective communication strategies for sustainable brands attracted the attention of participants from all over Latin America, including countries such as Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Panama, Argentina and Colombia. In addition to addressing the common challenges facing fashion in terms of sustainability, the event offered innovative and practical solutions to move towards a more conscious and responsible future.
Participants included Itaca Couture, Nice Paraguay, Fibras del Norte, Atelier Camila Loren, Alma dos Mares, Studio Mestiza, Naturaliza, Bonhomia Store, Carolina Flowers, The Arzayus, Maria Armelin, Charana Zero, Aymara Trama, Nancy Riveros, Studio Cumbre, Cara D’Oro and Bad Sisters.
"I am very excited to participate in this event and for the opportunity to connect with others who share my commitment to sustainable fashion," shares Carola of Cara D'Oro in Chile.
Ana Carolina of Carolina Flowers provides an inspiring perspective on her experience in floral art and crafts: “My artisanal skill with corn leaves has allowed me to fuse various techniques and find a sustainable path.”
Finally, Stephanie from Bad Sisters in Chile introduces us to her brand: "Our hand-painted fabrics and our commitment to bringing art to everyday life through fashion set us apart."
The decision to take the training online allowed brands and fashion professionals from around the world to participate, removing geographical barriers and expanding the reach and accessibility of new initiatives. This strategy responds to the need to promote greater awareness and commitment to more responsible practices throughout the industry.
Valentina Suárez, director of the Universo MOLA program, opened the training day with an introduction to the program and fundamental points for sustainability in fashion.
Then, Gabriela Pedrantti from the Istituto Europeo di Diseño (IED) presented key aspects for effective communication in sustainable fashion during the event. She highlighted the importance of maintaining an active conversation with the public on social networks and other media, actively responding to questions and comments to encourage interaction and build a loyal community. It was recommended to diversify communication strategies and adapt the message to different audiences and platforms. In addition, innovation in message dissemination was explored, emphasizing the importance of well-crafted press releases to reach journalists specialized in sustainable fashion.
Fedra Mauricci, founder of Back in Fashion, discussed the digital shift in fashion during the pandemic, highlighting its influence. Before the pandemic, many in the industry were not fully immersed in social media, but this changed dramatically over time. She also emphasized the importance of quality and aesthetics of social media content, as well as the need for transparent communication that reflects consumer values. In short, she offered an insightful view on the digital transformation in fashion, emphasizing the quality of content and the evolution of consumer values.
Doris Helena Rojas, Director of the Entre Soles y Lunas Foundation, explored the concept of regeneration in sustainable fashion. She highlighted the urgency of restoring and preserving the planet's ecosystems, biodiversity and cultures, arguing that regeneration encompasses the social and cultural, in addition to the environmental. Also, she challenged the audience to rethink fashion from a regenerative perspective, inviting them to consider how each individual can contribute to change. In short, her talk offered a stimulating insight into how to approach fashion more consciously and holistically.
Valentina Suárez, director of the Universo MOLA program, highlighted the importance of collaboration between Latin American entrepreneurs in sustainable fashion. Her speech highlighted how the event served as a platform to showcase products and share information about the environmental impact of each collection in a transparent manner. Moreover, she stressed the need to create garments that can be inherited by up to six future generations. Valentina Suárez's talk offered an inspiring and detailed insight into collaboration, transparency and sustainability in the fashion industry.
At the close of the event, Valentina extended an invitation to all participants and creators to present an Elevator Pitch of one minute each, thus providing an additional opportunity to highlight their projects and visions in the field of sustainable fashion.
Regarding the scholarships to participate in the MOLA Fashion Week Universe 2025, the beneficiaries were announced: half scholarships for all the training brands and full scholarships for the Arzálluz and Alma dos Mares brands. In addition to the main scholarships, special mentions were awarded to Bad Sisters and the Aymara brand, who received a 75% and 60% scholarship respectively to continue promoting their sustainable fashion projects.
In short, meetings like this are essential to support projects committed to sustainability by covering development and training costs. This decision highlights the quality and potential of the supported proposals, allowing beneficiaries to continue innovating in the industry and reaffirming the commitment to sustainability in fashion.
