South America – Fashion Associations

Directory: Fashion Associations, Federations, Councils, and Organizations across South America

These associations represent South America’s textile and apparel manufacturers, from Brazil’s large, vertically integrated industry to Peru’s specialty natural fibers and Colombia’s design-driven fashion sector.

South America Fashion Associations, Organizations, fashion models
Two fashionable women in Brazil jerseys – photo Marlon Alves

South American Textile Trade in 2025-2026

South America’s textile market was valued at $36.21 billion in 2025, and it’s projected to reach $54.25 billion by 2031. Fashion and apparel account for the largest share of that market, at nearly 63%.

Brazil anchors the region’s textile output, supported by Argentina, Colombia, and Peru. Each country has developed a distinct specialty: Brazil leads in scale and vertical integration, Peru in natural fibers like cotton and alpaca, and Colombia in design, branding, and value-added manufacturing.

Peru’s alpaca-fiber exports climbed 12% in 2025, driven by luxury brands seeking traceable, low-impact materials. Meanwhile, synthetic fibers now make up 56.3% of the region’s raw material supply, reflecting a broader shift away from natural fibers alone, and giving manufacturers more stable input costs as global fashion cycles speed up.

Directory: In Alphabetical Order

Argentina

Argentina’s textile and apparel industry is vertically integrated, spanning cotton growing, spinning, weaving, and garment manufacturing, and represented by associations across the full value chain.

Argentine Industrial Chamber of Apparel (CIAI)
With 60 years of history, CIAI represents Argentina’s apparel manufacturers before government bodies and works to strengthen the sector’s productivity. It has launched a strategic plan to help Argentine fashion brands and designers reach international markets.
ciaindumentaria.com.ar

Argentine Cotton Chamber
The Cámara Algodonera Argentina represents growers, cooperatives, exporters, and textile manufacturers across the cotton supply chain. It has held membership in the International Cotton Association since 2017, and was a founding member of Fundación ProTejer.
camaraalgodonera.com.ar

FADIT – The Argentina Federation of Textile Industries
since its founding in 1932, the Argentina Federation of Textile Industries has continuously been serving the interests of the textile industry.
Fita gathers spinning of natural and man-made fibers; weaving of aforementioned yarn, many of which have in turn facilities and technology for textile finishing; Companies specializing in the production of textiles for technical purposes geotextiles, wadding manufacturers and nonwovens; weaving mills and garment manufacturers of home textiles, knitted etc.
fadit-fita.com.ar

Fundación ProTejer
Founded in 2003 by industry leaders, unions, universities, and research centers, ProTejer represents Argentina’s entire agro-textile-apparel value chain. It publishes regular sector monitors on production, trade, and pricing, and advocates on tax policy and import competition.
fundacionprotejer.org

Brazil

Abicalçados – Brazilian Footwear Industry Association
Abicalçados (Brazilian Footwear Industries Association) operates as an advocate for the policies favored by the Brazilian shoe industry. It watches over the industry’s interests and acts directly on domestic and foreign issues pertaining to the industry’s activities.
The footwear manufacturers represented by Abicalçados are responsible for an annual production of 764 million pairs of shoes, 177 million of which were exported in 2007. Around 140 different countries import shoes from Brazil, generating an inward flow of US$ 1.911 billion in revenues. Currently, 300,000 people are employed directly by the footwear industry in Brazil.
> abicalcados.br

Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT)
ABIT (The Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association) represents the integration of the Brazilian textile chain. Founded on the early 1960’s, ABIT sponsors companies of every segment in the textile industry, including cotton growing, synthetic raw materials, textile fibers, spinning, weaving, knitwear, dyeing, printing and clothing.
ABIT’s mission is to support the sustainable development of the Brazilian textile industry, representing its interests in the presence of governmental and international organizations, as well as making the textile sector better known to the general public.
abit.org

Brazilian Association of Artificial and Synthetic Fiber Producers / Associacao Brasileira de Produtores de Fibras Artificiais e Sinteticas (ABRAFAS)
The ABRAFAS – Brazilian Association of Producers of artificial and synthetic fibers, created November 7, 1968 as a representative of the entity manufactured fiber producers is a nonprofit corporation, which currently includes companies involved in production, processing and marketing of artificial and synthetic fiber, responsible for almost all of the total value of production of these fibers in the country. Even in its basic principles and objectives, the ABRAFAS sought to represent, coordinate and promote the interests of industries fibers produced by public and private, national and international, always trying to balance the interests of its members needs market.
> abrafas.org.br

Brazilian Clothing Association / Associacao Brasileira do Vestuario (ABRAVEST)
The Brazilian Clothing Association is the legitimate representative of the interests of the industry producing garments in nationally and internationally. Operating since 1982, headquartered in the state capital of São Paulo, brings together, through its board policy, about 63 Regional Employers’ Unions of the industry sector, covering about 22,112 firms distributed throughout the country. A represents Abravest the major force-generating jobs in the processing industry. Hand labor is directly employed 1,438,007 jobs, indirectly reaching a quota of 4.6 million people. Our industries in 2009 produced 6,680 billion pieces made with an annual turnover equivalent to U.S. $ 36,759 billion.
> abravest.org

Texbrasil
Texbrasil (The Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program) was founded in 2000 by Abit in partnership with Apex-Brasil. It is an internationalization Program that helps Brazilian companies to grow in the market, ensuring they have a global presence. To do this, the Program dialogues with, provides information to and organizes trips for international buyers, the press and investors, giving them the chance to learn firsthand about the Brazilian fashion industry.
> texbrasil.com.br

Colombia

Institute for Export and Fashion / Instituto para la exportación de la moda (Inexmoda)
Inexmoda Institute is a research tool generator, marketing, innovation, training, internationalization and competitiveness of the textile – clothing – distribution channels and other sectors sensitive to design and fashion.
> inexmoda.org

Peru

Peru’s textile industry is built on high-quality natural fibers, particularly Pima and Tangüis cotton and alpaca wool, feeding brands from Armani to Zara.

Association of Exporters (ADEX) — Textile Committee
ADEX represents Peruvian exporters across sectors, with a dedicated Textile Committee for the textile-apparel chain. It runs the annual Foro Textil, bringing together government ministries, exporters, and industry leaders to address tariffs, competitiveness, and market diversification.
adexperu.org.pe

National Society of Industries (SNI) — Textile and Apparel Committee
SNI is Peru’s leading manufacturing industry association, founded in 1896. Its Textile and Apparel Committee focuses specifically on competitiveness, sustainable development, and circular economy initiatives within the textile chain.
comitetextilperu.com

International Alpaca Association (IAA)
Founded in 1984 in Arequipa, the IAA promotes and protects alpaca fiber worldwide. It created the Alpaca Mark, a collective brand distinguishing genuine alpaca textile products, and organizes Alpaca Fiesta, connecting breeders, businesses, and international buyers.
aia.org.pe

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