ActionAid Sydney Activists and the University of Sydney Fashion Revolution Society are hosting a special panel event to bring together different perspectives on issues in the fashion industry, and learn how our clothing could be more made ethically and sustainably – at the industry and individual level.

Event details:

Date: Thursday 3 November 2022
Time: 6.30-8pm (doors open 6pm)
Where: Woodburn Creatives, 82 cope street Waterloo
Price: Free

This event is sponsored by Young Henry’s. Refreshments will also be provided. ActionAid and USYD Fashion Revolution support responsible consumption of alcohol.

Future of Fashion

In the lead up to one of the biggest shopping events of the year - Black Friday and Cyber Monday - join a panel of ethical fashion and sustainability experts who will share different perspectives on the issues in the fashion industry, such as the exploitation of women workers and its impact on the environment. We’ll discuss how we can work together towards an ethical and sustainable future for fashion, with government, fashion brands, and individuals like you.

Garment workers have had to endure unsafe and sometimes life-threatening workplaces for too long. Almost ten years ago, on 24 November 2012, 112 garment workers died when a fire broke out the Tazreen Fashions garment factory in Bangladesh.  In 2013, Rana Plaza, an eight-story building housing five garment factories in Bangladesh, collapsed, killing 1,134 workers, and injuring more than 2,600.  It is one of the greatest industrial tragedies of all time. This collapse catalysed the creation of the Bangladesh Accord in 2013, which has since transitioned to the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry. The International Accord commits brands to protecting the safety of the women who make their clothes. 

In the lead up to Black Friday and the tenth anniversary of the Tazreen factory fire, ActionAid and USYDFR are holding a panel event to raise awareness about issues in the fashion industry, and discuss solutions. Come join us!

Learn more about the panel speakers here:

Rachel Rutt:

Rachel Rutt is the founder of RUTT AU, a sustainable swimwear and knitwear line. Alongside a career as a model, artist, and collaborative designer, her love of hand craft led to pursuing a deeper knowledge and skill in hand knitting and weaving. It is through these combined paths that she gained an acute awareness of the damages of fast fashion, the growing value of waste reduction and a circular economy. These experiences are what ground RUTT as an artisanal, sustainably focused knitwear brand. Rachel's work has appeared in Vogue, Vogue Living, Harper’s Bazaar, WWD, Marie Claire, 10 Magazine, Russh, Badlands, Love Want, Oyster, and more.

Nina Gbor:

As the founder of Eco Styles, Nina Gbor is an award-winning sustainability advocate, ethical fashion speaker, climate activist, writer and educator.  Nina has a Master’s Degree in International Development and is a former sustainable fashion tutor in short courses at RMIT University in Melbourne. She coined the phrase ‘get off the fashion TRENDmill’ which means individuality and self-knowledge should be the premise for consuming clothing, not fashion trends.

Dr Lisa Heinze Lake:

Dr Lisa Heinze Lake is a sustainable fashion author, researcher and academic, and one of Australia's leading authorities on sustainability in fashion. Currently, Lisa is the Development Manager of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion & Textiles, a joint initiative between UTS and TAFE NSW, where she is tasked with establishing a new centre to support a sustainable Australian fashion industry through education, innovation and advocacy. Previously, she completed her PhD research at the University of Sydney, where she was a key researcher with the Sydney Environment Institute, on pathways toward a sustainable fashion industry. Lisa's book, Sustainability with Style, was published in 2012, positioning her at the forefront of the sustainable fashion movement in Australia.