Bogotá Fashion Week closes with over $4 million in business deals
For four days, Bogotá was transformed into a vibrant catwalk hosting the eighth edition of Bogotá Fashion Week (BFW). This event, which ended on May 22, not only served as a showcase for the latest trends and collections, but also established itself as a key point to foster commercial networking and the internationalization of Colombian talent in the fashion industry. The Bogotá Chamber of Commerce highlighted the commercial success of the event, evidenced by the significant interactions between local sellers and international buyers.
The wholesale business rounds were one of the highlights of the event, with more than 1,000 appointments scheduled between local participants and buyers from key markets such as the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Mexico. This exchange generated commercial expectations in excess of US$4 million, with the forecast for this figure to reach US$10 million in a year's time. The significant presence of 80 buyers from 22 countries underscores the effectiveness of the internationalization strategy promoted in conjunction with ProColombia, thus consolidating Colombia's potential as a fashion hub in the region.
The president of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, Ovidio Claros Polanco, emphasized the importance of creating a BFW that not only highlights talent, but also promotes sustainability and inclusion in the sector. This approach aims to position Bogotá as the fashion capital of Latin America, opening the doors to established brands and entrepreneurs from the popular economy. This commitment to diversity and inclusion resonates with the event's mission, which seeks to provide opportunities for all industry players.
In addition to fashion shows and talks, the Ágora became a dynamic space where brands had the opportunity to exhibit and sell their products, generating significant sales, such as the 200 million pesos obtained by the multi-brand store. With an attendance of over 31,000 people, including fashion professionals, designers, and enthusiasts, the BFW 2025 program included not only commercial transactions but also an enriching academic agenda, highlighting training and emerging talent in this competitive sector.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
3 hours ago
- France 24
Asian markets rise as traders eye possible Trump-Xi talks
After a period of relative calm on the tariff front, Donald Trump at the weekend accused Beijing of violating last month's deal to slash huge tit-for-tat levies and threatened to double tolls on steel and aluminium. The moves jolted Asian markets on Monday, but hopes that the US president will speak with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping -- possibly this week -- has given investors some hope for a positive outcome. Meanwhile, oil prices extended Monday's surge on a weak dollar and Ukraine's strike on Russian bombers parked deep inside the country that stoked geopolitical concerns as well as stuttering US-Iran nuclear talks. Trump has expressed confidence that a talk with Xi could ease trade tensions, even after his latest volley against the Asian superpower threatened their weeks-old tariff truce. "They violated a big part of the agreement we made," he said Friday. "But I'm sure that I'll speak to President Xi, and hopefully we'll work that out." It is unclear if Xi is keen on a conversation -- the last known call between them was in the days before Trump's inauguration in January -- but the US president's economic adviser Kevin Hassett signalled on Sunday that officials were anticipating something this week. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent -- who last week warned negotiations with China were "a bit stalled" -- said at the weekend the leaders could speak "very soon". Officials from both sides are set for talks on the sidelines of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ministerial meeting in Paris on Wednesday. While there has been no movement on the issue, investors took the opportunity on Tuesday to pick up recently sold shares. Hong Kong gained more than one percent while Shanghai returned from a long weekend on the front foot. There were also gains in Tokyo, Sydney, Wellington, Singapore, Taipei and Manila. Seoul was closed for a presidential election. Deals queued up? The advances followed a positive day on Wall Street led by tech giants in the wake of a forecast-beating earnings report from chip titan Nvidia. Still, National Australia Bank's Rodrigo Catril remained nervous after Trump's latest salvos. "The lift in tariffs is creating another layer of uncertainty and tension," he wrote in a commentary. "European articles suggest the lift in tariffs doesn't bode well for negotiations with the region (and) UK steelmakers call Trump doubling tariffs 'another body blow'," he added. "The steel and aluminium tariffs also apply to Canada, so they will likely elicit some form of retaliation from there and while US-China trade negotiations are deteriorating due to rare earth, student visas and tech restrictions, steel tariffs will also affect China." Separately, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday voiced optimism for a trade deal with India "in the not too distant future", adding that he was "very optimistic". And Japanese trade point man Ryosei Akazawa is eyeing another trip to Washington for more negotiations amid speculation of a deal as early as this month. Also in focus is Trump's signature "big, beautiful bill" that is headlined by tax cuts slated to add up to $3 trillion to the nation's debt. Senators have started weeks of what is certain to be fierce debate over the mammoth policy package, which partially covers an extension of Trump's 2017 tax relief through budget cuts projected to strip health care from millions of low-income Americans. Oil prices extended Monday's surge that saw West Texas Intermediate briefly jump five percent on concerns about an escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and suggestions Washington could hit Moscow with stricter sanctions. That compounded news that the OPEC+ producers' grouping had agreed a smaller-than-expected increase in crude production. Traders were also monitoring tensions over Iran's nuclear programme after Tehran said it would not accept an agreement that deprives it of what it calls "peaceful activities". Key figures at around 0230 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 percent at 37,546.85 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.2 percent at 23,425.37 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3,352.06 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1431 from $1.1443 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3532 from $1.3548 Dollar/yen: UP at 143.05 yen from 142.71 yen Euro/pound: UP at 84.48 pence from 84.46 pence © 2025 AFP
France 24
12 hours ago
- France 24
Trump, Xi will 'likely' talk this week: White House
Trump reignited strains with China last week when he accused the world's second-biggest economy of violating a deal that had led both countries to temporarily reduce huge tit-for-tat tariffs. "The two leaders will likely talk this week," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters outside the West Wing when asked whether Trump and Xi would speak. Trump and Xi have yet to have any confirmed contact more than five months since the Republican returned to power, despite frequent claims by the US president that a call is imminent. Trump even said in a Time Magazine interview in April that Xi had called him -- but Beijing insisted that there had been no call recently. Stock markets around the world mostly slid on Monday as the US-China tensions resurfaced. Trump in early April introduced sweeping worldwide tariffs that targeted China most heavily of all, accusing other countries of "ripping off" the United States and running trade imbalances. Beijing and Washington last month agreed to slash staggeringly high tariffs on each other for 90 days after talks between top officials in Geneva. But Trump and top US officials Washington officials last week accused China of violating the deal, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying Beijing was "slow-rolling" the agreement in comments to Fox News Sunday. Beijing rejected those "bogus" US claims on Monday, and accused Washington of introducing "a number of discriminatory restrictive measures." Trump has separately ramped up tensions with other trade partners, including the European Union, by vowing to double global tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent from Wednesday.
France 24
15 hours ago
- France 24
Iran says no nuclear deal if deprived of 'peaceful activities'
Uranium enrichment has remained a key point of contention between the foes in talks to seal a nuclear deal, ongoing since April, with Iran defending what it says is its pursuit of a civil nuclear programme but with the US side calling it a "red line". Speaking in Cairo, where he met the UN nuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: "If the goal is to deprive Iran of its peaceful activities, then certainly no agreement will be reached." Araghchi insisted that Iran has "nothing to hide" on its nuclear programme. "Iran has a peaceful nuclear programme... we are prepared to provide this assurance to any party or entity," he said. The remarks came after Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday called for more transparency from Iran following a leaked report that showed Tehran had stepped up uranium enrichment. 'Full explanation of activities' The IAEA report showed that Iran has ramped up production of uranium enriched up to 60 percent -- close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons. "There is a need for more transparency -- this is very, very clear -- in Iran, and nothing will bring us to this confidence (besides) full explanations of a number of activities," Grossi said ahead of meeting Araghchi. Grossi added that some of the report's findings "may be uncomfortable for some, and we are... used to being criticised". Iran has rejected the report, warning it would retaliate if European powers that have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions "exploit" it. "Some countries are trying to abuse this agency to pave the way for escalation with Iran. I hope that this agency does not fall into this trap," Araghchi said of the IAEA. Iran meanwhile pushed for the United States to drop sanctions that have crippled its economy as a condition for a nuclear agreement with President Donald Trump's administration. Araghchi said on Saturday that he had received "elements" of a US proposal for a nuclear deal following five rounds of talks mediated by Oman. 'With or without a deal' Both Araghchi and Grossi met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who praised the US-Iran talks and called for "de-escalation in order to prevent a slide into a full-fledged regional war". On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a news conference: "We want to guarantee that the sanctions are effectively lifted." "So far, the American side has not wanted to clarify this issue," he said. The US envoy in the nuclear talks said last month that Trump's administration would oppose any Iranian enrichment. "An enrichment programme can never exist in the state of Iran ever again. That's our red line. No enrichment," Steve Witkoff told Breitbart News. Following a phone call with Witkoff the day before about the ongoing nuclear talks, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged a peaceful solution and a nuclear-weapon-free Middle East, saying in Monday's press conference that "the region is already experiencing enough problems and crises". He warned that military confrontation would create "a state of chaos from which no one will be spared". Iran has vowed to keep enriching uranium "with or without a deal" on its nuclear programme. The United States has sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal that the White House called "acceptable" and in Tehran's "best interest" to accept, US media reported on Saturday. The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic exchanges, said the proposal calls on Iran to stop all enrichment and suggests creating a regional grouping to produce nuclear power. Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.
