Mode Unie

What Mode Unie does

Mode Unie is a Belgian non-profit trade federation (vzw) headquartered in Brussels that serves independent fashion retailers across Belgium. Founded in 2019, the organization operates with a small core team led by Director Isolde Delanghe and provides three integrated service lines: (1) membership-based advocacy and networking, (2) practical training delivered through its PMO training institute covering retail skills, AI applications, profitability, customer experience, and hospitality, and (3) consumer-facing campaigns such as the annual Week van de Belgische mode and Red Friday that drive foot traffic to member stores. Mode Unie also operates a specialized lingerie subgroup called Fedelin, which manages supplier relationships with brands including Anita, Triumph, Van de Velde, and Wacoal, and runs the Bodyfashion trade fair at Antwerp Expo.

The organization's revenue is generated through a combination of recurring membership fees, paid training programs (e.g., the AI training trajectory at 125 EUR+VAT for members, subsidized by Flemish government agency VLAIO), and event fees such as international inspiration tours to fashion cities like Firenze (1,990 EUR per person excluding VAT). Mode Unie distributes its services domestically through direct membership enrollment via website and email, in-person workshops at partner locations including UNIZO offices, and large-scale PR campaigns targeting Belgian consumers. It holds core partnerships with Trademart (Brussels fashion trade center), UNIZO (independent entrepreneurs' organization), and various service providers including Fashioncheque, Textilia, and Europabank.

Mode Unie does not develop proprietary technology. Its role is fundamentally as a sector coordinator and capacity-builder for SMB fashion retailers. The organization's strategic value lies in aggregating the voices of independent retailers, providing professionalization support, and creating shared marketing campaigns to help members compete against large retail chains and international e-commerce players.

Name

Mode Unie

Legal name

Mode Unie vzw

Website

https://modeunie.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mode Unie is a Brussels-based non-profit federation that supports Belgium's independent fashion retailers through membership services, PMO vocational training programs, advocacy under the UNIZO umbrella, and consumer campaigns like Week van de Belgische mode.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Mode Unie generates revenue through membership subscriptions from independent fashion retailers. Members pay for access to sector news, workshops, training, networking events, and advocacy services.
2. Training program fees: The organization offers paid training programs through its training institute PMO. The AI training trajectory costs 125 EUR + VAT for members. Non-members pay 175 EUR excl. VAT for certain campaigns.
3. Event and tour fees: Inspiration tours and special events are offered for a fee. The Firenze inspiration tour costs 1,990 EUR per person excluding VAT (double room basis), with a 220 EUR single room supplement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mode Unie is a non-profit federation supporting independent fashion retailers in Belgium through paid membership, delivering sector news, networking events, inspiration tours, advocacy with policymakers, and B2C consumer campaigns such as Week van de Belgische mode and Red Friday. It operates a training institute (PMO) offering practical courses on sales techniques, customer experience, AI applications, profitability, and personality profiling for fashion retail employees and owners.

Product overview

Mode Unie is the Belgian federation for independent fashion retailers, offering a comprehensive suite of services including membership benefits, training programs through its PMO training institute, networking events, and sector news. The organization provides practical retail training courses covering sales techniques (up-selling, cross-selling), customer experience (fashion hospitality, customer communication), business profitability, and AI applications for fashion stores. Additionally, Mode Unie organizes major annual campaigns including the Week van de Belgische Mode and Red Friday, trade events like Bodyfashion, and inspirational tours to fashion capitals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PMO Opleiding (Training Institute) Mode Unie's training institute offering practical, on-the-job training programs for fashion retail employees and entrepreneurs. Covers sales techniques, customer experience, and business profitability. Provides Flemish government-recognized vocational training.
• Up- & Cross Selling Training A training program teaching cross-selling and upselling techniques to increase revenue from existing customers without significant operational changes. Targeted at fashion retail staff and owners.
• Fashion Hospitality Training A practical training program teaching how to strengthen customer experience in fashion retail through genuine hospitality, focusing on emotional impact from greeting to farewell. Targeted at fashion retail staff and owners.
• Boost de Rendabiliteit van je Modezaak (Profitability Training) A 7-month practical training program guiding independent fashion retailers through financial analysis, strategic decision-making, and seasonal planning to improve store profitability.
• Verbindende Klantencommunicatie (Customer Communication Training) Training on constructive communication techniques for handling difficult customer situations and strengthening customer relationships through non-confrontational dialogue.
• Van Smile tot Smile (Employee Journey Training) A comprehensive employee journey training program combining soft skills, commercial techniques, technical knowledge, and workplace wellbeing for sustainable retail success.
• AI Training for Fashion Stores A three-session training program (9 hours) helping fashion retailers understand practical AI applications including social media posts, product descriptions, customer emails, and sales data analysis using ChatGPT and similar tools.
• Week van de Belgische Mode (Belgian Fashion Week Campaign) An annual Belgian Fashion Week campaign raising consumer awareness about local fashion retail and Belgian-made fashion, with participating retailers and Belgian fashion brands. Drives foot traffic to local independent stores.
• Red Friday Campaign An annual campaign on the last Friday of November promoting local independent fashion retail shopping in Belgium to preserve retail diversity and authentic shopping experiences.
• Lumina Spark Personality Profiling Personality profiling training providing insight into communication styles, collaboration patterns, and decision-making approaches to improve team dynamics and leadership effectiveness.
• Bodyfashion Trade Fair Bodyfashion trade fair held at Antwerp Expo showcasing swimwear and lingerie collections for fashion retailers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of fashion retailers cite geopolitical impact on consumer confidence as cause for negative sales performance (survey by Mode Unie and UNIZO)

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PMO (Practisch Management voor Opleiding)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPMO is the training institute of Mode Unie, offering practical training programs for fashion retail staff and owners. PMO provides recognized vocational training recognized by the Flemish government, with subsidized pricing for eligible participants.
• TrademartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrademart is a fashion trade center in Brussels that partners with Mode Unie for events including the Trademart Retail Happening. Located at Atomiumsquare 1, 1020 Brussel.
• FashionchequeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFashioncheque is listed as a partner/supporter of Mode Unie, appearing on the organization's website footer alongside other partners.
• TextiliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTextilia is listed as a partner/supporter of Mode Unie, appearing on the organization's website footer alongside other partners.
• EuropabankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropabank is listed as a partner/supporter of Mode Unie, offering payment solutions for fashion retailers.
• UNIZO (Unie van Zelfstandige Ondernemers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIZO is the independent entrepreneurs' organization that Mode Unie collaborates with on sector surveys, seasonal sales analysis, and advocacy. They conduct joint surveys on fashion retail performance and policy issues.
• LiantisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiantis is present at Trademart Retail Happening events to answer retailers' questions about business services.
• BOIP (Benelux Office for Intellectual Property)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBOIP (Benelux Office for Intellectual Property) is present at Trademart Retail Happening events to answer retailers' questions about intellectual property.
• Fedelin (lingerie sector subgroup)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFedelin is the lingerie sector organization under Mode Unie, representing lingerie retailers. It has its own board, supplier partnerships (with brands like Anita, Triumph, Van de Velde, Wacoal, Lise Charmel, Impetus, CECEBA, Woody), and specific events including the Bodyfashion tradefair and lingerie inspiration tours.
• Lingerie suppliers (Anita, Triumph, Van de Velde, Wacoal, Lise Charmel, Impetus, CECEBA, Woody)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFedelin (under Mode Unie) has conducted supplier discussions with major lingerie brands including Anita, Bleaf, CECEBA, Dexit (De Spiegelaere), Impetus, Lise Charmel, Triumph, Vandevelde, Wacoal, and Woody to strengthen the lingerie retail sector.
• Sophie Van De Vijver (ambassador)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSophie Van De Vijver serves as ambassador and campaign face for the Week van de Belgische mode 2026. She is a stylist, content creator, and passionate Belgian fashion fan who promotes local shopping through her platform 'Sophisticatedbox'.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UNIZO: Belgian federation for self-employed entrepreneurs and SMEs, of which Mode Unie is a member. UNIZO is the closest structural analog: a membership-based federation that advocates for and services independent business owners in Belgium, including the fashion retail sub-segment.
• Comeos: Belgian federation for the commerce and services sector. Comeos represents a broader retail constituency than Mode Unie but shares the federation model, advocacy function, and member-services structure for retail businesses in Belgium.
• Independent Retail Europe: European trade association representing independent retailers across multiple member states. Comparable to Mode Unie at a supranational level, advocating for independent retail interests and providing a forum for national federations including Belgium's.
• Fedustria: Belgian federation for the textile, clothing, and fashion industry. Fedustria represents manufacturers and the broader textile value chain, sharing Mode Unie's sector focus on Belgian fashion and similar advocacy/training roles, but oriented upstream toward producers rather than independent retailers.

Regional players

• Fédération Nationale de l'Habillement: French national federation for clothing retailers. Comparable to Mode Unie as a national membership federation for independent fashion/clothing retailers providing advocacy and services, but operating in France rather than Belgium.
• UCM: Union des Classes Moyennes, the Wallonia-based federation for self-employed entrepreneurs and SMEs. UCM is structurally similar to Mode Unie (membership-driven SME federation), but operates in the French-speaking region of Belgium rather than directly competing with Mode Unie's Flemish base.
• Retail Federation (UK): UK trade association representing independent and small-chain retailers. Shares Mode Unie's mission of supporting independents through advocacy, training, and member services, though broader in scope and active in the UK rather than Belgium.
• BTE – Bundesverband Textileinzelhandel: German federal association for textile retail. BTE is the German analog of Mode Unie: a federation that advocates for and services independent textile/fashion retailers in its geography, offering comparable training, events, and lobbying functions.

Others

• Trademart: Brussels-based fashion trade center and Mode Unie's core event partner. Trademart operates the venue ecosystem in which Mode Unie delivers retail events like the Trademart Retail Happening, making it a direct ecosystem partner rather than a federation peer.

Direct peers

• NSZ / Syndicat Neutre pour Indépendants: National neutral union for self-employed entrepreneurs in Belgium. Like Mode Unie, NSZ is a membership organization providing advocacy, services, and representation to Belgian independents and SMEs, making it a direct peer in business model and target constituency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/modeunie
• Instagraminstagram.com/modeunie.be

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mode Unie