the world. Currently, the pair are working with virtual wholesale platform NuOrder to highlight 50 sustainable Latinx brands in an eight-week-long event from June 1-July 25. We took the opportunity to ask Tams about the Latin American fashion industry and what sets Latinx designers apart.  Inside Retail: What drove you to start LAFS? Samantha Tams: Our mission has always been to elevate and enrich Latin American fashion and design industry. LAFS started exclusively as an annual conference that brought together a group of globally respected industry experts; but today it is much more than that.  We are a powerful community, a multifaceted digital platform that showcases Latin American talent to the world and a leading content creator that provides opportunities for emerging designers and fashion entrepreneurs. IR: What are the biggest challenges that Latin American designers face currently? ST: There’s a lot of talent in the region, but their biggest challenge has always been the lack of real opportunities and the lack of access to key decision-makers in the industry – those who can impact the future of their brands and businesses.  For this reason, at LAFS our priority is to connect brands and entrepreneurs to industry leaders as well as to other important actors in the fashion industry ecosystem. IR: Is it all about global expansion, or are there opportunities for domestic growth?  ST: Our advice for brands is the following: try to penetrate the domestic market first and position their brand locally, then to proceed to expand regionally to gain experience in exports, logistics and demand before finally addressing American or European markets. IR: What is the domestic fashion market like in Latin America? ST: I think the domestic fashion market in Latin America has been evolving rapidly and Covid was a great wake-up call for a lot of brands and businesses to incorporate better practices in their business models. For instance, exploring direct-to-consumer, drop-ship models, not relying heavily on retailers and bricks-and-mortar. IR: How have Latin American designers been impacted by Covid?  ST: They have been heavily impacted, and still are, by the pandemic. Most of them relied heavily on bricks-and-mortar, so when their physical stores had to close, they had to react fast and quickly incorporate e-commerce into their business models in order to survive.  At the same time, they had to educate their customers and get them accustomed to online shopping. Moreover, they had to work a lot on their social media presence, online marketing and storytelling too. There are also still some issues within the supply chain and production. However, as borders are slowly reopening, they can import their raw materials.  Lastly, a lot of Latin American brands work with artisans and indigenous communities which rely on their craftsmanship as their primary source of income, so unfortunately, when orders stopped these communities were also directly impacted. IR: Do you think virtual wholesale platforms are here to stay even after international travel and fashion shows resume? ST: I definitely think we will move into a hybrid way of buying as virtual wholesale platforms make the buying experience easier, more cost-effective and more sustainable. However, at the same time, I do think that building a personal relationship between brand and buyer is key for a business. Therefore, in-person events and buying appointments will eventually have to resume. IR: What do you think are Latin American designers’ biggest strengths and points of difference? ST: In my opinion, our biggest strength is that our businesses are and have always been inherently slow fashion, sustainable and socially impact driven. IR: Are there any misconceptions about Latin American designers that are holding them back? ST: Yes. I think we were once viewed as a non-sophisticated culture, but I think that we have proved otherwise.