Fashion's fails — we can fix its toxic legacy! Kit Willow, Natasha Mitchell, and guests

Australians have a hardcore addiction to fast fashion. That means dyes in our waterways, microplastics in our bodies, and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of textiles dumped in landfill. Fashionista or not, do you feel powerless to change an industry dominated by global fashion giants making giant profits? Meet four passionate crusaders with fashion, finance, tech, textile, and industry know-how who are already finding ways.

They join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the 2025 Ocean Lovers Festival at the Bondi Pavilion on Gadigal Country.

Speakers

Dr Christopher HurrenAssociate Professor in Textile ResearchInstitute for Frontier MaterialsDeakin UniversityDanielle Haj-MoussaInvestor, technologist, and co-founder of Tech for Social Good non-profitLeader of Fashion Collective portfolio with deep tech fund Main Sequence Ventures

Dr Lisa LakeDirector, Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion + TextilesUniversity of Technology Sydney and TAFE NSW

Kit WillowFashion designer and sustainable fashion pioneerCreator of international labels Willow and KitXFounder, Cirkit

Thanks to Lorna Parry and Carolyn Grant at the Ocean Lovers Festival for curating this event.

Further information:

Alt.leather (start-up company developing 'leather' made from plants)

Samsara eco (start-up company developing plastic eating enzymes)

Xefco (start-up company developing new ways of dying and processing materials)

Newera Bio (start-up company developing new dyes and pigments for textiles)

Nanollose (company turning liquid waste into rayon fibres for clothes)

Blocktexx (company recovering polyester and cellulose from textiles and clothing)

Project Boomerang (plans for a textile recycling plant run by the Salvos)