Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association will decode the ‘Brave New World’ of retail in a post-pandemic era. He’ll share how major disruptions have ignited ground breaking innovations and revolutionised the industry.

With new approaches to global sourcing and technology reshaping retail, he’ll examine the latest global and local trends, offering a captivating glimpse into the future by reflecting on the lessons of the past.

Curious about the future of textile waste? The statistics are staggering! Prepare to be inspired as Belinda Paul shares the actionable solutions that will make a real and immediate difference. Belinda’s mission with RCYCL is to breakdown the overwhelming data and empower everyone with impactful solutions to improve our environment.

Panellists from eBay Fashion, The Salvos Stores and Seamless Clothing Stewardship Scheme will join Belinda to discuss the opportunities ahead of us in the world of fashion recycling.

In an era where sustainability has become a necessity, the fashion industry faces a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape that demands immediate and strategic action from retailers and manufacturers alike. This insightful presentation summarizes the latest regulations and delves into the critical need for businesses to develop comprehensive sustainability programs that are not only compliant but also future proof.

How can AI support and revolutionise your brand marketing whilst protecting your IP? Our panel of experts will discuss:

• Understanding (IP) Intellectual Property
• The Role of IP in Sourcing
• Leveraging AI for IP Protection
• Harnessing AI in Marketing Strategies
• AI uses in Business Operations
• Current trends in Marketing and

This panel of industry experts, government, and researcher representatives will discuss clothing acquisition, use and disposal behaviours in Australia. The discussion will highlight key findings from the nation’s first representative survey on clothing practices, offering an interesting look at the habits shaping the future of fashion. These results reveal important implications for policy at the local, state and federal levels. The results can also be used to monitor the uptake of circular practices over time in Australia, providing essential metrics for Australia's transition to a circular clothing economy.

Creating considered pieces that don't compromise our planet and its people is one of today’s biggest challenges for manufacturers worldwide.

Athena Voudiotis, committed to minimising environmental impact and promoting positive social practices, will share her insights and strategies on ethical production.

Paul Murdoch, with 28 years of global sourcing experience, will discuss the importance of building key, sustainable partnerships.

Courtney Holm will dive into circular design for fashion and apparel while sharing how to scale sustainable business models.

Neale O’Connor will provide insights into negotiating with overseas suppliers to optimise business operations.

As an industry veteran, Mr Shan is familiar with changes, over the past 20 years, in China’s garment international trade supply chain which directly influences the sourcing strategy.

In this session you will gain a better understanding of the garment supply chain in China, including the strengths and weaknesses of small, medium and large exporters.

Mr Shan is from Ningbo, a garment manufacturing centre and home to thousands of clothing companies including producers of international brands like Uniqlo, as well as small to medium companies that serve boutiques and online stores.

Whether demonstrating cotton provenance for exports to the US, publishing supplier locations for laws in the EU, or collecting environmental data for carbon reporting, digital mapping of the supply chain beyond the first tier is now essential for regulatory compliance.

Navigating the move from manual spreadsheets to digital solutions is now easier given solutions on the market which combine physical traceability data with supply chain transactions to provide end to end supply chain visibility and product information.

Join this panel to learn how unlocking your supply chain in partnership with your suppliers enables your business to comply with reporting obligations in a timely manner as well as identify operational efficiencies to future proof your growth.

Do you have what it takes?
What you need to know to achieve your goal. Honest and thought-provoking insights from inside the mind of fashion buyer, mentor and industry expert who will share invaluable information and to prepare you and set you on the right path to realising your dream. Learn the hidden secrets to you need to achieve success nationally and internationally.

A comprehensive discussion about the opportunities and challenges within the Fijian fashion and manufacturing industry. This session will explore everything from Fiji Fashion Week to the thriving Fijian apparel manufacturing industry which has attracted sourcing from international fashion labels.

We will hear from Kookai managing director Robert Cromb, who manufactures his global fashion brand out of both Fiji and Sri Lanka, as well as Tracey Farrington, a Fiji-based Australian designer with 30 years of manufacturing experience.

We’ll also hear fascinating insights from Fiji Fashion Week founder and managing director Ellen Whippy Knight, emerging menswear designer Temesia Tuicaumia and educator Nicholas Huxley, the former head of Sydney’s Fashion Design Studio (who taught so many of Australia’s best-known designers such as Nicky Zimmermann and Dion Lee and is now mentoring Fiji’s next generation of talent).

With the push for Net Zero targets and the introduction of mandatory climate reporting in Australia and New Zealand, brands and retailers are facing increasing pressure to make commitments and show tangible results.

Yet navigating greenhouse gas emissions in global supply chains is daunting, with many retailers struggling to make progress.

Get the know-how on setting targets, engaging with suppliers, selecting materials and reducing emissions at the factory level. With insights from global supply chain decarbonisation experts, this panel will delve into effective strategies and programs to help you get moving.

Unlock a detailed understanding of the production process with this overview designed to share essential knowledge and practical skills. We’ll cover the steps involved in the process and prepare you for production. You’ll gain insights from real life experiences and learn how to transform your designs into production plans.
Key topics will include;

• How do you find and manage reliable suppliers, especially for small brands?

• Quality Control and Design -learn how to avoid common design mistakes that can affect fabric and trim quality with a hands-on exercise to get you started.

• Sourcing – Explore what sourcing entails, key questions to ask and current trends to watch.