It all began with Dress to Impress, an initiative born from STEM Sisters’ vision to address the challenges migrant women of colour face in STEM fields when navigating professional attire. These women often find themselves straddling two worlds: their rich cultural heritage and the professional norms of male-dominated industries. The pressure to "fit in" frequently leads to the abandonment of traditional garments in favour of a neutral, conforming style that does not fully reflect who they are. For many, this means sacrificing an important part of their identity in order to feel accepted in the workplace.

Recognising this struggle, Dress to Impress sought to do more than simply offer fashion solutions. The initiative aimed to challenge the pressure on women of colour to conform, while promoting confidence through culturally appropriate professional clothing. At the heart of the programme was the belief that women should not have to choose between their heritage and professionalism. Instead, Dress to Impress was designed to help them reclaim their self-expression while advancing the principles of circular fashion.

The initiative champions sustainable alternatives to fast fashion, encouraging the reuse and exchange of high-quality second-hand and factory-excess clothing. For many migrant women of colour—especially jobseekers—the financial burden of assembling a professional wardrobe can be overwhelming. When faced with the choice of paying rent or buying a new outfit for an interview, many women are left with few viable options. Dress to Impress sought to break down that barrier, giving women access to professional attire that boosts their confidence without the financial strain.

But this programme goes beyond just providing clothing; it aims to reimagine how dress codes are viewed in STEM workplaces. Its mission is to shift institutional mindsets, encouraging more inclusive fashion norms where women of colour can dress authentically and feel comfortable in their own skin. Dress to Impress is about more than fitting in—it’s about empowering women to stand out while staying true to their identity.

One of the greatest challenges we faced early on was overcoming the stigma associated with reusing and donating clothing. For some, the notion of wearing second-hand clothing carried a negative connotation. However, in many cultures, exchanging clothing with family or friends is a common and cherished practice. We recognised that to make the initiative successful, we needed to normalise garment swapping and the circular fashion model. To achieve this, we launched an awareness campaign alongside a survey to better understand how CALD women perceived these practices. The insights gained were presented at Victoria University's Environmental, Social & Governance for Sustainability Conference 2021, where we highlighted the changing attitudes towards garment reuse.

The response was clear: the community was ready. On 20th November 2021,Dress to Impress made its debut at Melbourne Fashion Week. This landmark event showcased a range of creatively restyled outfits that honoured both personal style and cultural identity. The event featured engaging panel discussions, live restyling demonstrations, and a runway show where STEM professionals and aspiring women proudly modelled their unique looks. The message was powerful: women of colour should never have to change who they are to fit into societal or workplace expectations.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. The Guardian featured Dress to Impress in an article that ranked among their top five, bringing national attention to the initiative. This success led to the rebranding of the programme as Dress to Express in 2022, reflecting our evolving mission. We shifted the focus from simply impressing others to empowering women to authentically express themselves through fashion. We wanted to underscore that personal style and cultural identity should be celebrated, not suppressed, in professional spaces.

Partnering again with the City of Melbourne, Melbourne Fashion Week 2022, and Thread Together, we took Dress to Express to the next level with another successful event.

As we continued to grow, we encountered logistical challenges with traditional in-person clothing swaps. We realised the need for a more efficient and accessible solution. That’s when we envisioned a digital platform, one that would allow women to seamlessly swap and loan clothing within their communities. This vision gave birth to SWOP SIS, a shared community digital wardrobe where women can engage in sustainable fashion exchanges, fostering community connections while supporting circular fashion on a broader, more scalable level.

Today, we continue to expand our reach. We welcome partnerships with city councils, women's communities, workplaces, and universities to establish clothing-swapping groups on the SWOP SIS platform. Through this growing movement, we are revolutionising how women engage with fashion—empowering them to express their true selves while embracing a more sustainable future.