MFNZ Beyond the Runway | From Fast to Regenerative

On the 27th of August, our NZFW Beyond the Runway panel posed a powerful question:

Can fashion slow down and still make an impact?

Guided by Michele Wilson (Tainui, Ngāti Pāoa), the kōrero featured insights from Peri Drysdale, Rory Docherty, and Emily Miller-Sharma, each illustrating how slowing down fashion can be transformative, reshaping both what we wear and how it's made.

🎤 Peri Drysdale (Untouched World) reminded us that true storytelling starts at the farm, connecting us to the land and the makers behind regenerative practices.

🎤 Rory Docherty challenged us to shift our mindset on purchasing, encouraging us to become curators of our own identity rather than mere consumers.

🎤 Emily Miller-Sharma (Ruby) emphasised the power of transparency, inviting customers into the process and showing them why it matters.

Together, they demonstrated that slowing down doesn’t mean compromise - it’s a path to true transformation.

At Fashion & Textiles NZ, this captures what it means to slow fashion down and be intentional. Every purchase is an opportunity to value craftsmanship and skill, understand the story behind a piece, and support designers, communities, and the environment. To build a connection with what we wear.⁠
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