Hear how the Westwood | Kawakubo came to life – from the initial idea, selection of works and the interpretative themes, through to the exhibition design and scenography.

Moderator
Grace Lam is a fashion stylist and Former Senior Fashion Editor of VOGUE China. She has worked in the international fashion industry for over 25 years. As a global citizen, Grace has resided and worked in cities spanning from London, New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai to Beijing. She earned a First-Class degree honours in graphic design at the famed Central Saint Martin’s College Of Art & Design. Beginning her career at the iconic i-D magazine in London as a fashion assistant to Edward Enninful OBE (Former Editor-In-Chief of British VOGUE). She worked with Hollywood actors Jude Law, Hugh Grant, Maggie Cheung, supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. Her clients include Estee Lauder, DIOR, Burberry, VOGUE and Harper’s Bazaar.

Speakers
Katie Somerville is the Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Katie has worked with a range of fashion and textiles collections for three decades, including at the National Gallery of Australia and Historic Houses Trust of NSW. She joined the curatorial department at the NGV in 1995, working across both the Australian and International collection. She currently manages the research and development of the Fashion and Textiles collection and the Campbell-Pretty Fashion Research Collection along with the ongoing program of publications and exhibitions for the Fashion and Textiles Department. During her time at the NGV Katie has curated and co-curated numerous exhibitions including: Westwood | Kawakubo (2025), Martin Grant (2025), Alexander McQueen, Mind, Mythos, Muse (2022) presented in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture (2017), Making the Australian Quilt:1800-1950 (2016), Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids (2014), Melbourne Now (2013), ManStyle: Men + Fashion (2011), Together Alone: Australian and New Zealand Fashion (2009), and Akira Isogawa: Printemps-Été (2004).

Danielle Whitfield is Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Since joining the NGV she has curated numerous exhibitions and spoken and published widely on the history of Australian and international fashion. Recent projects include NGV Triennial (2023, 20), Melbourne Now (2023) Alexander McQueen, Mind, Mythos, Muse (2022) presented in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto (2021) presented in partnership with the Palais Galliera; and Collecting Comme (2019).

Hear about Rei Kawakubo’s design philosophy and indelible contributions to fashion through a discussion of recent key collections with Remo Hallauer, COO of Comme des Garçons, revealing why she has remained such an influential force in fashion.

Moderator

Danielle Whitfield is Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Since joining the NGV she has curated numerous exhibitions and spoken and published widely on the history of Australian and international fashion. Recent projects include NGV Triennial (2023, 20), Melbourne Now (2023) Alexander McQueen, Mind, Mythos, Muse (2022) presented in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto (2021) presented in partnership with the Palais Galliera; and Collecting Comme (2019).

Speaker

Remo Hallauer, COO, Comme des Garçons

Explore the importance of archival materials in telling the story of these two leading designers and their impact on fashion and culture, as Natalya Lusty, Professor of Cultural Studies at The University of Melbourne, leads a conversation with NGV curators Charlotte Botica and Meg Slater..

Moderator
Natalya Lusty, Professor of Cultural Studies, The University of Melbourne

Speakers

Charlotte Botica is Assistant Curator, Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). She holds an Associate Degree in Fashion Design and Technology (RMIT University), Bachelor of Textile Design (Massey University) and Masters of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Deakin University).

Meg Slater is Curator of International Exhibition Projects at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Since 2017, Meg has worked on eight of the NGV’s major international exhibitions, including MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art, 2018; Keith Haring | Jean Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines, 2019/20, Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi, 2023; and Yayoi Kusama, 2024/25. Meg was also one of the five curators who organised QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection, 2022. In 2021, Meg completed a Master of Art Curatorship at the University of Melbourne with First-Class Honours.

Hear how Vivienne Westwood’s innovative and rule-breaking approach to fashion made her one of fashion’s most influential figures. Fashion academic and former Westwood employee, Jane Francis, discusses the fertile early period of the 1980s and 1990s that led to some many innovations in conversation with NGV senior curator Katie Somerville.

Moderator

Katie Somerville is the Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Katie has worked with a range of fashion and textiles collections for three decades, including at the National Gallery of Australia and Historic Houses Trust of NSW. She joined the curatorial department at the NGV in 1995, working across both the Australian and International collection. She currently manages the research and development of the Fashion and Textiles collection and the Campbell-Pretty Fashion Research Collection along with the ongoing program of publications and exhibitions for the Fashion and Textiles Department. During her time at the NGV Katie has curated and co-curated numerous exhibitions including: Westwood | Kawakubo (2025), Martin Grant (2025), Alexander McQueen, Mind, Mythos, Muse (2022) presented in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture (2017), Making the Australian Quilt:1800-1950 (2016), Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids (2014), Melbourne Now (2013), ManStyle: Men + Fashion (2011), Together Alone: Australian and New Zealand Fashion (2009), and Akira Isogawa: Printemps-Été (2004).

Speaker

Jane Francis, MA, SFHEA is a global academic, practitioner, and researcher in fashion. With over 30 years of experience across design, fashion history, and creative consultancy, she has founded fashion labels as well as The Covert Room, a nonprofit gallery dedicated to supporting underrepresented artists and makers. Jane has collaborated internationally with influential voices in the industry, including Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent, Tank Publishing, and Nicholas Knightly. Her work has been exhibited and collected worldwide. She has served as an educator, academic director, and advisor at institutions such as Parsons New York, Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, University of Westminster, Academy of Art University San Francisco, İMA Istanbul, and BHSAD Moscow.