MC WELCOME

CLARE PRESS, SUSTAINABILITY-EDITOR-IN-LARGE, VOGUE AUSTRALIA & PODCASTER, WARDROBE CRISIS

PANEL

THE STATE OF CIRCULARITY IN AUSTRALIA

ALEASHA MCCALLION, SENIOR OPERATIONS CO-ORDINATOR, MONASH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

DR CHRISTOPER HURREN, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, INSTITUTE FOR FRONTIER MATERIALS, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

COUNCILLOR JESS MILLER, CITY OF SYDNEY / STEPHANIE DEVINE, FOUNDER, THE VERY GOOD BRA

PETER ALLAN, DIRECTOR, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE

If sustainability was the buzzword of the last decade, circularity came a close second.

Despite being recognised as a critical business and design tool for reducing waste and the reliance on natural resources, circularity - what it entails, how it can be implemented, and the infrastructure required - is still not seeing much action.

A truly circular fashion industry requires system change. At every stage of the value chain. A transformation of the ways we produce and consume.

It’s an exciting opportunity but also a critical one.

So for all the buzz, where can we find the action? Do we have the data we need to make evidence-based decisions?

Do we have the commitments from industry and governments to invest in the infrastructure required and are companies equipped to redesign their business models to be truly circular?

Hear from academics, government and business leaders actively working to future proof our environment by transitioning our industry away from a linear economy to a circular one..

keynote

ARE WE DESIGNING FOR ALL?

GRACE SUTTON, CO-FOUNDER, ALL IS FOR ALL (NEW ZEALAND)

One of the biggest opportunities for diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry is missing from the conversation.

Accessibility.

How can we shift our mindset towards truly designing for all by turning a multi-billion dollar blind spot into independence and dignity for the quarter of the population living with access needs?

What can brands do to ensure their designs are relevant to all lovers of fashion?

Whether its in the design studio, on the shop floor or behind an ecommerce site, there is an incredible array of tools, techniques and critical thought to make experiences for those with access requirements less challenging, more exciting and ultimately more inclusive.

Hear how from our compelling speaker Grace Stratton, who at twenty years of age, alongside co-founder Angela Bevan, created All is for All, an accessible social change agency.

All is for All has already made waves for accessibility by working with New Zealand Fashion Week to cast six models with disabilities for the first time and advising leading brands on accessible design. Alongside Jacinda Ardern, Grace is the only other New Zealander to be featured in InStyle Magazine’s annual Badass 50 list for 2019.

KEYNOTE

THE CLIMATE CRISIS

PROFESSOR LESLEY HUGHES, THE CLIMATE COUNCIL

IN CONVERSATION

THE CLIMATE CRISIS - IN CONVERSATION

PROFESSOR LESLEY HUGHES, THE CLIMATE COUNCIL

SAM MOSTYN, NON-EXEC DIRECTOR & SUSTAINABILITY ADVISOR

GENEVIEVE SMART, CO-FOUNDER, GINGER & SMART

BREAKOUTS STREAM 1

BK 1: LET’S TALK ABOUT POLYBAGS

MEREDITH EPP, INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP MANAGER, AUSTRALIAN PACKAGING COVENANT

Brands around the world are tackling single use plastics and packaging in their supply chain. In particular, the ubiquitous polybag.

Utilised almost universally, the poly is still around as it serves a very useful purpose. Nothing protects a garment from dirt or moisture quite like it.

And yet, the race is on to limit the environmental impact of single use plastics and to reach a consensus on which materials and systems to be adopting and commitments to be making.

Simple in form and function, they can be complex in recycling and recovery. Biodegradable? Compostable? Recycled? Bio based? Re-use? What about E-Comm satchels?

This session will explore what best practice looks like in the here and now in this ever-evolving space. Delegates will explore reduction and recovery strategies, what recycled and reusable options are available, infrastructure available for collections as well as international legislation including our own National Packaging Targets. 

BK 2: MICROFIBRES: WHAT WE DO & DON’T KNOW

DR MARK BROWNE, SENIOR LECTURER, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

MARINA CORTE TEDESCO, LEAD TEXTILE ENGINEER, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

What do and don’t we know about the shedding of microfibres and their impact on the environment and the species and organisms that live in the ocean?

The world is awash, don’t mind the pun, with studies on where microfibres are being shed the most - at the manufacturing stage? At the washing stage? At the wearing stage? Which fibres shed the most - synthetic, natural, recycled? Which washing methods shed the least - cold vs hot, slow vs fast?

Data, facts, effective studies count. They are the only way the industry can make evidenced based decisions which address both cause and effect.

Brands are being asked to manage their microfibre risks - which way forward?

Join the microfibre breakout and learn from the scientist who was the first to discover fibres from our clothes were ending up on ocean shores, Dr Mark Browne. Mark and colleagues will share what we know, what we are yet to learn and how brands can support research for the greater good of the industry and nature.

BK3: CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES - WHERE DO YOU START?

THOMAS SCHRODER, HEAD OF CLIMATE ACTION, SOUTH POLE

AJIT PADBIDRI, SENIOR CONSULTANT, COROPRATE SUSTAINABILITY

There’s a lot of terminology in the climate action space which can make it hard for brands to know where to start, what to measure, what commitments to make and which initiative to sign up to.

Science based targets, GHG Protocol, net zero targets, carbon offsets, scope emissions, climate neutral. What do they all mean and what’s their role in shaping a climate response?

Thomas Schroder, Head of Climate Action at South Pole will provide attendees with a 101 to your climate leadership journey. Learn why not all offsets are created equal, greenhouse gas accounting methods, where the impact lies in scope 1-3 emissions and how to begin reducing your footprint.

BREAKOUTS STREAM 2

BK 4: THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS & THE FASHION INDUSTRY

JULIE BOULTON, PROJECT MANAGER, MONASH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

CORINNE SCHOCH, SENIOR ADVISOR, GLOBAL COMPACT NETWORK AUSTRALIA

The SDGs were created collaboratively by 193 governments, including Australia, to address and resolve some of the world’s most critical challenges by 2030.

Providing a universal framework for progress towards a more sustainable future, the goals are designed for any size of business to implement with incredible value in uniting everyone from employees to customers under a common language.

Unpack the SDG framework and how to align your sustainability strategy to the goals.

This interactive session will help attendees understand the value of the Sustainable Development Goals and their relationship to the fashion industry, including how living wages, circularity, water use, emissions, textile waste and more fit into the framework.

Attendees will review best practice case studies of how brands are implementing the goals, the benefit it brings their business and what tools can be used to assess progress in order to measure performance.

BK 5: ANIMAL WELFARE - DESIGNING A BEST PRACTICE POLICY

JESSICA MEDCALF, HEAD OF PROGRAMMES, FOUR PAWS AUSTRALIA

A sustainability programme is incomplete without an animal welfare policy, and importantly one which is available to suppliers as well as customers. Policies need to provide suppliers with guidance on expectations around welfare standards, acceptable animal derived fibres and preferred third-party certifications.

What makes for a best practice policy? Which standards are available to verify welfare and chain of custody claims and which materials are high risk and subject to bans from retailers?

Jessica Medcalf, Head of Programmes, will present FOUR PAWS’ textiles policy development guidelines, as well as share examples of best practice brand commitments and fibre positions in line with the rising expectations of industry and consumers alike.

BK 6: OEKOTEX

More information to come

IN CONVERSATION

3D TECHNOLOGY - IN CONVERSATION

NATALIE JOHNSON, CEO & FOUNDER, 3D ROBE / PATRICIA CHIRCOP, DIRECTOR, KNIT MELBOURNE