We’re delighted to introduce Marie Kinsella, CEO of International Expo Group and organizer of the highly anticipated Global Sourcing Expo Melbourne 2024. Celebrated globally as a premier fashion trade event, the Expo returns this November, offering an extensive showcase of fashion, footwear, home textiles, and accessories, alongside seminars and panel discussions on pressing topics such as sustainability, AI, and ethical sourcing. In this interview, Marie shares insights on the event’s evolution, the value it brings to attendees and exhibitors, and how it continues to shape the future of global sourcing.
What makes the Global Sourcing Expo 2024 a must-attend event for businesses in Australia?
Featured by Forbes as one of the top fashion trade shows across the globe, the Global Sourcing Expo (GSE) returns to Melbourne this November for its second event of 2024.
From 19 – 21 November 2024, the stage is set for the trendiest event, with 900 exhibitors from over 15 countries coming together to showcase the latest in fashion, footwear, home textiles and accessories.
The Expo includes the co-located Footwear & Accessories Show, offering visitors the opportunity to explore an extensive collection of high-quality footwear brands and products from countries including Türkiye, India, Brazil, China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Expo visitors will be able to experience a diverse range of products and services – from cutting-edge technology to sustainable solutions, all tailored to meet their sourcing needs.
Trade Associations Drive Fashion Innovation
Several trade associations and groups are participating in the upcoming Melbourne Expo, including Swyan Udyogi Nari (an NGO of Women Entrepreneurs of Kolkata), the Handloom Export Promotion Council India, the Export Promotion Council of Handicrafts of India, the Taiwan Textile Federation, the Textile Clothing and Footwear Council of Fiji and the Vietnam Apparel and Textile Association.
These associations serve to promote and advance their members and their sectors through accreditation and advocacy efforts, providing an important link between stakeholders and government. This makes them an important resource for Expo visitors, who will benefit from the industry connections, credibility and guidance they can provide.
The Global Sourcing Seminars, meanwhile, offer an opportunity to engage in insightful discussions on a range of pertinent topics, including traceability, clothing recycling and circularity, to new regulations, AI and ethical sourcing.
These seminar sessions, panel discussions and workshops are facilitated by industry leaders and experts, including Patty Huntington (Features and Fashion News Director of Harper’s BAZAAR Australia), Paul Zahra (CEO, Australian Retailers Association), Professor Alice Payne (Dean of the School of Fashion & Textiles, RMIT University) and Jude Kingston (Director, Mind Your Fashion) – to name a few.
The Global Sourcing Expo is the perfect platform for professionals in the fashion and textile sector to forge new partnerships, gain key insights, research the solutions they need and unlock untapped markets.
How has the Global Sourcing Expo evolved over the years, and what new additions can attendees expect this year?
Launched more than a decade ago, the Expo continues to evolve and has grown to become a centrepiece of global sourcing in apparel and textiles sourcing in Australia.
The Expo continues to enjoy significant growth acceleration, including the launch of the second edition of the show in Sydney each year, owing to the experience, the market intelligence of the organising team and the development of a seminar program – delivered by experts and catering to the changing needs of audiences; the maintenance of a targeted audience database; as well as strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders. Each Expo offers visitors something new – be it a new panel discussion feature or the introduction of a new sourcing region.
The upcoming Expo, taking place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 19 to 21 November 2024, features the co-located Footwear and Accessories Show, the China Clothing Textiles Accessories Expo, as well as the Global Sourcing Seminars program.
The event is set to provide an exciting showcase of over 900 exhibitors from around the world including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cambodia, Japan and more. The Seminar program includes sessions focused on sustainability and traceability (and the regulatory changes relating to these), the emergence of AI technology and its impact, as well as supply chain management insights.
What are the key benefits for exhibitors at this year’s event, particularly in terms of generating sales leads and building brand awareness?
This is the ideal networking opportunity for any business in the fashion, textile and sourcing space, and all eyes are on Melbourne in November. Exhibitors can meet key brands, retailers and trade buyers from across Australia and New Zealand.
This unique industry platform allows exhibitors to cultivate valuable business relationships with a diverse contingent of decision makers and influencers, and to showcase product and capability to a targeted professional audience. The show also provides direct access to focused trade professionals looking to source on a global scale, as well as key industry associations.
Sustainability is a major theme at this year’s event. How is the Expo addressing the growing demand for sustainable and ethical practices in the fashion and textile industries?
There is a significant shift underway, demanding that brands adopt more transparent, ethical and sustainable business practices and processes. This shift can be overwhelming for industry players, and this is why the seminar program for the upcoming Melbourne show features a number of expert presentations; providing guidance for industry professionals looking to integrate sustainability into their sourcing and production process, so that there is a clear roadmap for a more environmentally conscious future.
Specific seminar sessions include a panel discussion facilitated by Rick Lambell, Founder and CEO of Beyond Sustainable Retail Group (moderator) and Liam Salter, Founder and Group CEO of RESET Carbon on Net Zero and Scope 3 GHG emissions – achieving measurable results in partnership with your suppliers.
Another key seminar session is entitled Aligning Your Values – Managing Sourcing and the Supply Chain, where Athena Voudiotis (Huxbaby), Paul Murdoch (The Sourcing Club), Courtney Holm (from circular fashion label, A.BCH), and La Trobe University A/Professor, Neale O’Connor will share strategies on ethical production, sustainable partnerships, circular design, and effective supplier negotiations.
Panel at Melbourne Expo
We have also added panel discussions and seminar presentations that explore how to stay ahead of the shifting regulatory landscape. These include the Navigating the Conscious Fashion Evolution panel discussion. Chaired by Elizabeth Formosa, founder of Fashion Equipped and creator of the Conscious Fashion Blueprint, the panel also features Dr Vaibhav Gaikward, Head of Sustainability at ELK, Elle Roseby, Managing Director of Country Road and Trenery and Mary Lou Ryan, Co-Founder of bassike.
Can you tell us more about the lineup of speakers and the topics they will cover at this year’s seminars?
Speakers include
• Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association, who will explore transformative innovations reshaping the retail industry post-pandemic, and how professionals can leverage these trends to stay ahead in the ever-evolving market.
• Belinda Paul, Founder and Director of RCYCL, along with a panel from eBay Fashion, Salvos Stores, and Seamless Clothing Stewardship Scheme, discussing solutions to tackle textile waste and empower consumers to make a positive environmental impact.
• Elizabeth Park from Fashion True Futures, who will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest regulations in the fashion industry and the importance of developing sustainable, future-proof business practices.
• Brian Goldberg, Trademark Attorney and a panel of experts, who will discuss the role of AI in brand marketing, intellectual property protection, and business operations.
• Professor Alice Payne from RMIT University, who will present findings from Australia’s first representative survey on clothing practices, highlighting implications for policy and the transition to a circular clothing economy.
• Athena Voudiotis (Huxbaby), Paul Murdoch (The Sourcing Club), Courtney Holm (from circular fashion label, A.BCH), and La Trobe University A/Professor, Neale O’Connor will share strategies on ethical production, sustainable partnerships, circular design, and effective supplier negotiations.
• Melinda Tually, Director of Ndless: The New Normal, will be joined by industry expert panelists to discuss how unlocking your supply chain in partnership with your suppliers enables your business to comply with reporting obligations promptly.
• Jude Kingston, a renowned fashion buyer, mentor, and industry expert will equip audiences with the knowledge and strategies needed to achieve their fashion industry goals.
• Fiji Fashion Week Founder, Ellen Whippy-Knight, will be joined by Robert Cromb (managing director of Kookaii), fashion designer and educator, Nicholas Huxley, as well as designers Tracey Farrington and Temesia Tuicaumia, for a dynamic discussion on the Fijian fashion and manufacturing industry.
• Rick Lambell, Founder and CEO of Beyond Sustainable Retail Group and Liam Salter, Founder and Group CEO of RESET Carbon will lead a panel discussion that unpacks supply chain decarbonisations, from target setting to supplier engagement, materials selection, and factory level emissions reduction.
• Natasa Pitra-Grbic, 2024 Australian Business Champions awardee, will lead a workshop on the production process, quality control, and sourcing strategies.
The complete seminar program is available at https://globalsourcingexpo.com.au/global-sourcing-seminars/
With new technologies like AI playing a role in global sourcing, how do you see these advancements shaping the future of sourcing and supply chains?
The emergence of AI presents both opportunities and challenges. It can be harnessed in the development of robust product innovations or effective marketing items, for example. But, as discussed in one of our Sydney show seminars on AI Risks and Opportunities in Retail, the opportunities unlocked by AI must be balanced against risks including copyright infringement and data protection.
Balancing AI Opportunities and Risks
Retailers and sourcing professionals who use AI will need to be diligent about complying with laws and best practices. The development of AI policies and training will become more important, too.
Of course, education and knowledge building are fundamental to the successful integration of new technology. And this is why the Global Sourcing Expo features a seminar series, including sessions that explore new technology like AI, to guide sourcing professionals. The upcoming Melbourne Expo, for example, will feature a panel discussion, led by Trademark Attorney, Brian Goldberg, on AI Marketing and Protecting Your Brand.
What are some of the key challenges facing businesses in the global sourcing sector today, and how does the Expo aim to address these challenges?
A key challenge is the global shift towards ethical production, sustainability and circular design, as well as traceability. Businesses must stay up to date with evolving textile regulations, such as the European Union’s upcoming requirement for all textile products to carry a Digital Product Passport (DPP) by 2030.
The Expo is addressing these challenges by offering a seminar program that brings together industry experts and innovators who can explain these industry shifts and share critical insights for success. This is a platform for knowledge sharing and networking.
In addition, we feature a wide range of exhibitors from around the world, including industry associations that can offer attendees guidance and access to resources, helping them navigate the shifting landscape and the new challenges facing the sector.
What are your long-term goals for the Global Sourcing Expo, both in terms of its impact on the industry and its expansion?
We will continue to develop the Expo so we can offer it to the sourcing and buying market as a destination – a space where they can resolve the challenges facing them and their supply chain, and forge global partnerships with suppliers, manufacturers and industry associations.
Our relationships with industry organisations and key stakeholders are instrumental to our success. To this end, we will continue to explore and expand our strategic partnerships – both within Australia and beyond.
We’re excited to announce the launch of the 2025 events soon. In the interim, we encourage sourcing professionals to follow us on social media to stay up to date on any announcements.
