The Art of being Responsibly Fashionable

Melbourne Series

Drinks with Lisa Barron OAM & Todd Anthony

Hosted by Trisha Avery

In 2025, the Victorian fashion industry is valued at nearly $1 billion. It is paramount that we work to future-proof the industry, not only to sustain its economic contribution to the State, but also to sharply reduce fashion waste, with Victorians currently generating an average of 28kg of fashion-related pollution per person each year.

In the week prior to the Australian and ASEAN fashion industry meeting at Melbourne Fashion Week, and as part of our Melbourne Series, we are delighted to introduce two leading erudite, fashion industry icons to discuss and debate the future of one of our most important Victorian industries.

Lisa Barron OAM, from glam punk rocker in Perth to Australian Fashion icon, has contributed significantly to the growth and success of the Australian Fashion Industry. With her flagship store in High Street Armadale, Lisa has stamped her classic and wide-ranging style of Australian fashion, world-wide for over 40 years. In 2022, Lisa was awarded an Order of Australia Medal. She currently sits on the Premier's Business Council and was the founding member of the International Women's Forum, Australia. She is a deep thinker on all matters sustainable and brings a unique perspective to The Art of being Responsibly Fashionable.

Todd Anthony is the Head of Fashion Programming at the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, leading the development and curation of the festival’s dynamic runway and cultural programming. With a background as a senior fashion and design academic and a consultant in the luxury fashion sector, Todd’s work is deeply informed by a commitment to sustainability and ethics, particularly the protection of people, animals, and the environments we share. Todd's approach blends creative vision with a strong values-led foundation, shaping programming that reflects the future of responsible fashion.

Together, Lisa and Todd will unpack how the industry can better align creativity with responsibility - sharing insights into sustainable design, shifting consumer behaviours, and the future of fashion in a changing world.

In our final Melbourne Series event of the year, join us for this vibrant and informed conversation.