The small country at the Black Sea is known for its high level of creativity translated into unique products by what is one of the finest manufacturing destinations worldwide. Textiles and clothing is nothing new and well entrenched in the culture and economic life of Georgia. Designers such as ‘Tamuna Ingorokva’ or ‘The Situationist’ are long known as strong brands with an outstanding design at international level. Many other brands are highly dynamic, developing innovative and attractive products in almost every segment. It is therefore not surprising that the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi successfully took off for the first time in 2017. At the same, Georgia can revert to a solid apparel manufacturing base supplying domestic as well as international brands seeking high-quality and flexible production facilities that can also service the EU market – duty free.

GAFA – Entry gate for production in Georgia

25 fashion and apparel companies joined forces in 2020 to create a sector cluster to represent what is already known as one of the finest fashion and apparel destinations worldwide. The ‘Georgian Apparel and Fashion Association (GAFA)’ was officially founded in 2021, within the framework of the the Clusters4Development (C4D) project, funded by the EU and the German government, and implemented by GIZ. Today GAFA represents almost 40 Georgian member companies operating as designers, brands and manufacturers. GAFA works in all domains related to fashion and apparel, from design, development and production to markets, from branding to digitalisation. Next to providing services and a platform for its members, GAFA also offers an entry gate for anyone seeking to explore the flair and potential of ‘making fashion in Georgia’.

infoAid, a consultancy based in Berlin, Germany, specialised on advising the textile and clothing sector, has been assigned to provide targeted consulting expertise in selected areas, assisting GAFA to consolidate or to develop new activities for its members. International market access and entry is as important as the dynamic subject of digitalisation. One key-target is to create a sustainable cluster, meaning both, successfully operating as an organisation and as a cluster promoting sustainable products and processes, protecting the environment and the people living and working in it.

Events in 2022 to make business contacts

In 2022, GAFA is exploring a number of European markets, already having established collaborations with key trade-events and associations in France, Germany, Italy and the UK. In May of this year, ‘Sustainability Days’ will be hosted in the capital city of Tbilisi, to present solutions for the sustainable design, development and production of fashion and apparel products. In July, a delegation mission will be hosted to Germany, France, the Netherlands and the UK to widen and deepen relations with key sector stakeholders, culminating in the participation of Georgian companies in all major international events.

• Information about C4D project: EU Project page – EU for Georgia: eu4georgia.eu