The Artisanal Revolution - 1:30pm - 3:15pm

Talk 1:30pm – 2:15pm

Facilitated Roundtable Discussions 2:30pm – 3:15pm

Fashion sits at a crossroad. As the industry contends with overproduction, climate crisis and the rise of generative AI, a quiet revolution is emerging that sees artisanal skill, cultural diversity and human-scale production as our greatest assets.

Join us to explore why artisans matter and how leading design houses, global initiatives and dedicated platforms invest in their success. This future-thinking and thought-provoking conversation will unpack why innovation is not a threat to artisanship, but a tool to sustain and amplify it.

This is not a retreat to the past. It’s a reimagining of fashion’s future.

Panellists

Alida Milani (Fashion Industry Consultant, AMME)

Stepehen Morris-Moody (Fabric Designer and Co-Owner of MTK Australia)

Grace Marafioti (What the F*** is Fashion Tech Blog and Founder of Gaia Custom)

Roundtable topics and facilitators

Investing in Melbourne's Artisanal Future hosted by Alida Milani with Dayana Adones (MTK Australia) and Grace Marafioti.

What is Luxury Now? Hosted by Julia Browne - Melbourne Fashion Hub.

Fashion for Every Body - 3:45pm - 5:30pm

Talk: 3:45pm – 4:30pm

Facilitated Roundtable Discussions: 4:45pm – 5:30pm

Shifts in the industry are echoing around the nation, reshaping the way we view and engage with design. It explores size, culture, ability and gender as avenues for creativity – not barriers against it.

How might a deeper understanding of Country, heritage and diverse body types transform contemporary design practices? In this interactive conversation, you’ll hear directly from local innovators, designers and artists who are leading the way. Through their stories, experiences and connection to Country, you’ll gain fresh insights and practical inspiration to apply to your own creative practice.

Panellists

Kerry Pietrobon (Designer, Consultant and Mentor)

Fatuma Ndenzak (Collective Closets Co-Founder)

Gabriel Cole (Multidisciplinary Artist and Designer)

Roundtable topics and facilitators

Designing for Body Diversity & Inclusive Fit hosted by Kerry Pietrobon - Designer, Consultant and Mentor

In the Footsteps of Matriarchs: Style as Storytelling hosted by Jirra Lulla Harvey - Kalinya Studios and Fatuma Ndenzak - Collective Closets

M/FW Conversations Day Pass

Attend both M/FW Conversations and roundtable discussions, The Artisanal Revolution and Fashion for Every Body, for $70. Ticket price includes tea, coffee, light refreshments and the opportunity to join your fellow attendees and continue the conversation from 5:30pm – 6:00pm with a complimentary glass of bubbles.