Melbourne Fashion Festival: Designing for the Future

RMIT School of Fashion & Textiles has a rich and diverse history of producing high achieving graduates from the disciplines of Design, Technology and Enterprise.

We welcome back a group of alumni to share their experiences in fashion and design. 

The discussion will touch upon topics such as:

• Designing for the Future Inclusivity and Diversity within the Fashion Industry
• Fashion Technology: AI and Virtual Influencers
• Communicating Fashion: The role of Fashion Weeks
• Future manufacturing: Artisanal approach to manufacturing with a regional focus

The event will conclude with a tour of the campus and a meet and greet with current students.

Tickets are free.

PANELLISTS INCLUDE

BELINDA PAUL | FOUNDER, RCYCL
Belinda has worked in the fashion world for over 25 years and understands the demands placed upon this industry to always be ahead of the trend.   Passionate about tackling the textile pollution problem, RCYCL provides a direct-to-consumer return satchel that allows people to easily recycle their used clothing at the end of its life cycle. The service creates an immediate impact on the environment while contributing to a circular economy.   RCYCL champions consumers,retailers and brand partners for enabling everyday recycling to be at the forefront of their purchasing mindset.  Belinda believes the notion of responsible consumerism is imperative, now more than ever. 

CATHRYN WILLS | FOUNDER, SANS BEAST
Cathryn Wills established Sans Beast in May 2017, after a career spanning 30+ years in the Australian fashion industry. The late 80’s saw time in retail at Benetton, followed by various roles at Palmer
Corporation, before gaining a BA Fashion at Melbourne’s RMIT. A substantial chapter at Country Road then followed, where Wills worked in knitwear, eventually becoming Knitwear Design Manager across the men’s and women’s divisions. Post leaving Country Road, Wills pursued a freelance design career for a number of years, before finding her niche at Mimco, joining founder and former owner Amanda Briskin (-Rettig) in 2004. Wills went on to the role of Creative Director post the sale of the business to private equity in 2007, and in 2010, expanded her creative remit to encompass the commercial leadership of the brand, as Managing + Creative Director.In establishing Sans Beast, Wills has dedicated herself to building a design led, quality brand, with compelling visual + written storytelling. The brand sources responsibly manufactured, non-leather materials for the collection + manufactures in ethically run factories in Southern China + Chennai, India. Sans Beast is PETA accredited vegan, rated ‘good’ on the global ethical site, GoodonYou + donates to Australian animal sanctuary, Edgars Mission + international entity One Tree Planted, along with Sea Shepherd on a monthly basis.

INGRID VERNER | FOUNDER, VERNER
Ingrid Verner began her life in the Australian fashion industry as one half of the cult label TV, from 2006 to 2011. In 2013, she launched her eponymous label, a women’s wear brand based in Melbourne/Naarm that brings a broad-thinking and cross-disciplinary approach to design. VERNER is known for addressing issues of nationalism, identity and the body politic through her work and shows regularly on the catwalk and in exhibitions across the country with garments in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria and The Bendigo Art Gallery. Ingrid Verner is a previous winner of the New Designer Award at Melbourne Fashion Festival. VERNER regularly collaborates with like-minded artists, adding a further layer of interest to each collection. Verner’s collaborations with award-winning Gunditjmara and Torres Strait Islander artist Lisa Waup has been showcased on the catwalk as part of First Nations Fashion + Design and Country to Couture and has exhibited at major institutions across the country, including The National Museum of Australia as well as overseas in Hong Kong and Paris. Ingrid has worked extensively a design mentor and educator on numerous national projects as well as previously teaching into RMIT’s Bachelor of Fashion (Design).

JEREMY HERSHAN  | FOUNDER, HAULIER
Graduating from world-renowned RMIT University in Melbourne with First Class Honours in Fashion Design – during which he spent 6 months in Antwerp with the highly innovative Veronique Branquinho – Hershan moved to Paris to complete an apprenticeship with Kris Van Assche, Artistic Director of Dior Homme. He was a senior designer for Alfred Dunhill before being lured back to Australia as head of design for RM Williams to lead its transition. In 2022 Haulier was created by Hershan designed in Australia and made in Europe HAULIER makes timeless goods that endure - products designed to live a full life and be all the better for it. In March 2024, Hershan was awarded the coveted National Designer Award presented by Melbourne Fashion Festival in partnership with David Jones. In December 2024, Hershan capped off a headline grabbing year by winning the esteemed GQ Designer of The Year Award. 

RMIT acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations as the Traditional Owners of the  land on which the University stands. We respectfully recognise Elders  past, present and future.