Clothing the loop is a collision of fashion, art, design and activism presented by Australian Dance Party and sustainable designer, Kelli Donovan to activate textile and fashion circular economies in our ACT community.

Clothing the Loop is a collision of fashion, art, design and activism presented by Australian Dance Party and sustainable designer, Kelli Donovan to activate textile and fashion circular economies in our ACT community.

Featuring guest speakers:
Senator David Pocock
Kelli Donovan
Nina Gbor

Jen Edwards

Ainsley Simpson
Julie Boulton

Join us for a full day of sewing + textile art workshops, industry talks, panel discussions, giant clothes swap, local sustainable design installations, fashion parade and performances.

The day celebrates the work of local designers, advocates, community groups, artists and government agencies who are working together to build a more circular fashion economy and reduce our footprint.

RSVP here.

Join researchers, council representatives, activists, policy makers, students, creatives and community organisers for a day of collaboration and conversations on how everyday practices of reuse and repair can be harnessed for climate justice. You can attend the full day or select sessions.

Keynote Speaker – Nina Gbor 

Nina Gbor—Founder of Eco Styles and Director of the Circular Economy and Waste Program at The Australia Institute—will explore a more holistic approach for broader systems change and creating a circular and sustainable textiles future in Australia. Her work spans community education, policy influence, and creative activism, showing how share and reuse can be a foundation for community transformation and fashioning justice. 

Facilitator: Alison Gill - Western Sydney University

RSVP here.

‘HOW TO HOST A SWAP’ is a panel at the exciting 2025 SECNA Social Enterprise Festival. The panel will share tips for running not only the best swaps but also running different types of swaps.

Nina Gbor of Eco Styles and Swap in the City

Jacky Lo of Joy of Giving

James Hornitzky of Street Bounty and Salon De Refuse

SECNA is a sector-led peak body that represents the interests of social entrepreneurs and social enterprises across NSW & ACT.

Book your spot here.

Bringing Legacy, Design, and Sustainability Together
The Peter Pan Op Shop is more than a sale—it’s a celebration of timeless fashion and the craftsmanship that makes high-quality design endure through generations. The impeccable artistry of couture pieces is meant to have many lifetimes, and through circular fashion, we extend their journey while reducing waste. This year, we honour the intersection of heritage fashion and modern sustainability, proving that great design is forever.

Join us for a stylish celebration featuring circular economy insights and restyling tips from sustainable fashion educator and eco stylist, Nina Gbor. 

Fashion Show, Talks, Live Styling and most importantly first options on the SHOPPING!  

RSVP here.

Refresh your wardrobe sustainably! Swap your pre-loved fashion and discover creative ways to give your outfits a fresh new look!

Swapping is a clever and thrifty way to update your wardrobe, save money and help fight textile waste.

In celebration of World Environment Day, Council and Nina Gbor, founder of Eco Styles, are teaming up to bring a sustainable fashion restyling demo and clothes swap to the Ryde community!

If you have garments in excellent condition that you once loved but are no longer your favourites, join us at Ryde Library for a swap. Plus, discover how to restyle your wardrobe sustainably with a live talk led by Nina Gbor.

RSVP here.

Australian Fashion Week 2025 talk, Fast Threat: Protecting Australian Fashion in an Ultra-Fast World

Ultra-fast fashion is reshaping global markets and challenging Australia’s fashion industry. In partnership with the City of Sydney, this roundtable invites guests to share insights, challenges and strategies to protect local business. Your input will support the AFC’s call for a government inquiry into ultra-fast fashion’s impact on our economy, environment and community.

Putting Degrowth into Practice: Film screening and panel discussion

Join us for a public screening of the BBC documentary "Less is More: Can Degrowth Save the World?" and conversation with director Alvaro Alvarez. After the screening we will have a panel discussion connecting the film with local Sydney and Australian initiatives to put degrowth into practice and to influence policy toward regenerative, flourishing futures.

Panellists:

• Alvaro Alvarez

• Chiara Di Giorgio

• Chris Riedy

• Nina Gbor

Find tickets here.

We’re excited to join forces with esteemed eco-stylist, and renowned fashionista Nina Gbor for a styling workshop as she demonstrates how staple wardrobe items can be (re)styled in multiple ways to suit any occasion and body type - quashing the narrative that keeping up with trends means we must buy new!

Then, it’s time for the Clothes Swap! 

This isn’t just any swap—it’s a vibrant, community-driven event where you can trade your clothes (five quality pieces) and positively impact the environment.

Details here.

As part of the Inspired Living Series and National Recycling Week, Nina Gbor and Courtney Holme will discuss sustainable fashion in a circular economy at the Manningham Function Centre.

RSVP here.

This year for our EFWA eco-seminar, titled “Protecting Our Planet Through Sustainable Fashion” we have an incredible line-up of speakers!
Be prepared to not only meet the amazing array of industry experts in the panel of Eco Fashion Week, but also learn from these industry leaders & experts on the topics that matter most, i.e. sustainable fashion, sustainable living and ethical consumerism.

Join the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) and the City of Perth supported by the Circular Textile Working Group and Western Metropolitan Regional Council for an exclusive Restyling event with Nina Gbor, the founder of Eco Styles and clothes swap expert featured on War on Waste 2023! This event is funded by Spacecubed.

RSVP here.

In Conversation with Nina Gbor - This event is a collaboration between the City of Perth, Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) and Western Metropolitan Regional Council (WMRC). Whether you're in fashion design, education, business, or simply a dedicated eco-fashion enthusiast, this session is an opportunity to discuss ideas for a holistic circular and health fashion future.

Whether you're in fashion design, education, business, or simply a dedicated eco-fashion enthusiast, this session is not to be missed!

Join us for a fantastic opportunity to discover stylish new outfits, and help combat fashion waste! We're thrilled to partner with Parramatta Council and The Clothing Exchange to bring you an exciting event dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion: the CLOTHES SWAP! This social gathering is all about exchanging clothes in a spirit of community and generosity, all while making a positive impact on the environment. Don't miss out on this chance to refresh your wardrobe and support the circular fashion movement!

RSVP here.

University of New South Wales (UNSW) hosts an inspiration panel embracing the "ratbag" spirit—celebrating women environmental leaders who speak up, push boundaries, and drive meaningful progress for our communities and environment. This event honours Nancy Hillier OAM, a fearless advocate who fought tirelessly for environmental and social justice in Sydney’s Botany Bay.

Book your spot here.

RSVP here.

This sustainable and circular styling session will give you simple tips and hacks to curate a stylish wardrobe that's tailored to your individual lifestyle and personality, no matter what age or size you are!

First, we'll have a quick run through of what's needed for a holistic circular fashion economy and sustainable fashion future. Then you'll get ideas for what you or your community can do for a healthier planet. We'll finish the session with an exciting live re-styling demo with a model showing how to re-style one garment in at least 6 different ways, for 6 very different types of occasions. Why? So you can reduce fashion waste and be your most stylish self at the same time!

Join the fabulous Nina Gbor, sustainable fashion educator, eco stylist, international speaker and clothes swap expert of over 13 years. Nina works with media, councils, schools and community groups across Australia to create a more holistic sustainable fashion future. She was a featured guest on season 3 of ABC TV's War On Waste. She is the Director of Circular Economy & Waste Program at The Australia Institute.

This session is part of our monthly swaps- clothing so come along to that between 10am - 2pm. Book here .

Did you know that you can restyle the same basics for multiple occasions? Nina Gbor joins Wingecaribee City Council in the city’s atrium at the Civic Centre for an exciting fashion restyle session. Nina will show you easy, quick and stylish hacks to transform one garment into 5 to 10 very different looks for very different occasions. You'll be able to reduce fashion waste, reduce your shopping budget and live your most stylish life by making the most of your current wardrobe.

Following the restyle session Nina will open the clothes swap for everyone to find a new item to love, the link below will take you to the closing of the event which is also the clothes swap. Please make sure you also sign up to drop off your clothes through this link.

Elements is the Blue Mountains’ first sustainable fashion show. It will feature curated collections from five local women-led businesses that focus upon pre-owned, vintage, sustainable and upcycled fashion.

Featuring Nina Gbor

Textiles and fashion waste have reached unprecedented levels around the world.

But Australia takes the prize as the biggest consumer of fashion in the world per capita, with over 300,000 tonnes of textiles discarded each year.

With processes such as resource extraction, manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal happening with multiple players and often across multiple continents, finding solutions is not easy. But it’s also not impossible.

A holistic, sustainable, ethical and sufficient fashion future is a North Star that we may or may not reach. However, we need to know when we’re heading in the right direction – and when we’re not.

Join our expert panellists – Dr Lisa Lake, Professor Ken Pucker, and Adrian Jones – who’ll discuss textiles and the circular economy, moderated by Nina Gbor, Director of Australia Institute’s Circular Economy & Waste Program. The panel will explore the legitimacy of proposed and existing textile solutions and seek to decipher the most holistic and legitimate pathways to a sustainable future.

Free but registration is essential. RSVP here.

This exciting presentation will have simple tips and hacks to curate a more stylish or customised sustainable wardrobe at any size or age.

We'll have a quick run through of what's needed for a holistic circular clothing economy and sustainable fashion future. You'll also get ideas for what you or your community can do for a healthier planet. This session will also feature a live re-styling demo showing how to re-style one garment in multiple ways for multiple types of occasions so you can reduce fashion waste and be stylish at the same time.

RSVP here.

Are you passionate about creating a sustainable and resilient community? Don’t miss this enlightening panel discussion featuring three inspiring voices who will explore how energy, first nations perspectives and the circular economy are key to fostering sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Panel talks with special guests including:

• Costa Georgiadis

• Nina Gbor

• Tim Forcey

• Shannon Foster

How do we Fix Fashion?

Each year in Australia we throw out more than 300,000 tonnes of clothing, some goes to Opp Shops but most of it ends up in landfill or is shipped offshore for processing or recycling.

After watching seriously tongue-in-cheek Patagonia doco 'The Shitthropocene', 
Craig Reucassel, ABC Radio Sydney Breakfast presenter and host of The War on Waste will try to find the answers in discussion with panellists:

• Patagonia spokesperson

• Councillor Adam Worling, former director of Thread Together clothing re-use social enterprise

• Australian Fashion Council CEO - Jaana Quaintance-James, former Sustainability Manager, The Iconic

• Nina Gbor, Australia Institute Director of Circular Economy, founder of @Eco.Styles

• Reverse Garbage CEO Kirsten Junor, former Dress for Success Operations Manager

• Rachel Power, The Bower Head of Textiles

RSVP here.

The Thrivability Matters Webinar is a monthly online gathering, whereby invited experts expose science-based sustainability learnings, through sharing their experience and knowledge. This month, we will discuss SDG 9, on industry, innovation & infrastructure, and how they can create sustainable outcomes while reducing their impacts.

1 MILLION WOMEN IS TURNING 15 AND WE ARE CELEBRATING. 

Come party at our FESTIVAL OF SOLUTIONS - Be inspired by slow fashion icons, women from the front line of climate change, world leaders, zero wasters, climate scientists, performances from SUPERSTAR MUSICIANS who have spent their careers fighting for our precious earth and DIY demos from the experts on how to live lightly on our planet. 

Then after the Main Event, browse our Solutions Marketplace with over 40 stalls bursting full of climate solutions and all the ways that enable us to live a life that’s lighter on the planet. 

Our festival is for everyone. BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS and let's fill our hearts with optimism and joy and climate action!  

Tickets here.

Ready to update your winter wardrobe? Before you buy new, join us for an exciting night of sustainable fashion by swapping, dropping and restyling your wardrobe!

In the spirit of World Environment Day on 5th June, we're extending our celebration to host a panel discussion with amazing guests who will show us the Power of Reuse and how each of us can participate with a small gesture.

Panelists:

• Yiana Roumeliotis, Community and Social Impact Manager at Addi Road, a charity with a huge impact. They rescue food and fight hunger, among many other great initiatives they offer.

• Nina Gbor, founder of Eco Styles. Nina is an educator in circular economy and sustainable fashion, international speaker, sustainability consultant, clothes swap maven, and eco stylist. She recently showcased her work on the ABC's War on Waste.

RSVP here.

Join us on Friday 22 March for a fascinating conversation on fashion, entrepreneurship and circularity with founder, speaker and fashion educator Nina Gbor and iAccelerate Expert in Residence Kylie Flament.

Join us for the finale event of ‘Live More with Less’ celebrating medium green climate action; aka an unapologetic approach to living more with less. That’s more fun, freedom and connection and less obligation, waste and eco-guilt. 

In this vibrant panel discussion, you’ll learn from sustainable living trailblazers about why they are hopeful for our future and how keep their climate distress at bay.

If you’re concerned yet confused about what climate action to take, you’ll find solace and solutions in this dynamic event.  

Register here.

Join Jo Taranto from Good For The Hood in a chat with The Australia Institute’s Circular Economy & Waste Program Director, Nina Gbor in a webinar where Jo Taranto will share her expertise on what a circular economy looks like and the opportunities for transitioning to circular systems. She’ll explore how a circular economy, cannot only reshape our supply chains and manufacturing but also how it can fundamentally reshape community life and participation as well.

Free online events but booking is essential. Register here.

Is recycling actually just a form of greenwashing? Globally, plastics generate around 1.8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. In Australia, only 18% of plastics are recycled and the nation’s recycling targets are far from being reached.

It’s been reported that each person ingests about a credit card size in plastics each week. That’s roughly 5 g a week or an average of 100,000 g of microplastics every year. The implications of all this plastic on our health is a critical issue.

These are some of the topics that will be discussed in our plastics webinar.. We’ll share ideas for reducing plastic use in your life. And also increase momentum towards phasing out plastics or potentially shifting the country towards recycling targets and a circular economy that would minimise plastic waste and lead to materials being recovered, reused, recycled and reprocessed.

Join:

• Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, Executive Director and Founder of the Plastic Free Foundation

• Dr Deborah Lau, CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Mission Lead

• Associate Professor Thava Palanisami, Environmental Plastics Innovation Cluster(EPIC), The University of Newcastle

• Nina Gbor, Director of the Waste & Circular Economy Program at the Australia Institute

for an interactive discussion on plastic waste in Australia.

Register to get the zoom link here.