Ragtrader Associate Editor Imogen Bailey reflects on the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival International Women's Day breakfast.
This morning I had the privilege to attend the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival International Women's Day breakfast, supported by Country Road.
The room was filled with almost 400 women (and a spattering of men) dressed beautifully, brimming with ideas and conversation.
It was so nice to be at an event again! No mask requirements and only a QR check-in at the door made it seem, dare I say it, almost back to 'normal'.
After our breakfast was served, the room was treated to an insightful and educational panel discussion on 'Changing Climates: Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow'.
Chaired by Country Road MD Elle Roseby, the panel – Harper’s Bazaar features and fashion news director Patty Huntington, sustainability strategist Julie Boulton, author and founder of Wardrobe Crisis Clare Press and Cox Inall Ridgeway and founder of online community Australian Indigenous Fashion, Yatu Widders Hunt – discussed what sustainability means for fashion and what work is being done to get there.
The discussion dove deep into an array of areas that sit under the umbrella term of sustainability, including regenerative agriculture, social justice, local manufacturing, slowing down production, caring for Country and respecting garment makers.
And boy do I feel re-energised after listening to the discussion.
Sometimes it feels that circular or sustainable fashion is an unachievable task, hampered by the sheer scale of the problem – as well as the scale of the solutions.
But listening to the expert women discuss what is being done is a breath of fresh air.
It was especially comforting to hear the certainty with which the panel spoke of a circular fashion model - work is already happening now to bring it to life.
Following the discussion, four things continue to rattle around in my brain:
1. Ask questions and learn more about the clothes we wear.
2. Vote for a government that takes fashion circularity seriously.
3. Take small steps to begin the journey of circularity.
4. Demand better from brands - ask for more transparency.
Happy International Women's Day.