“Open your hearts and get ready to experience fashion with soul.”
This inspiring theme set the stage for the Handmade for the Earth fashion show by Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA), which transformed the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) into a hub of creativity last May.
Related Story: EFWA: The Buya Subi Project
Handmade for the Earth
For more than 10 years, Founder and Creative Director Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills has carried her eco-fashion vision across continents, inspiring audiences from Perth and Vancouver to Florence and, now, Palu, Indonesia.
Handmade for the Earth weaves together age-old textile artistry and contemporary design, sparking innovation in sustainable fashion and nurturing the growth of green economies.
The fashion collection featured Buya Subi, a silk Sarong Donggalaven from Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, handcrafted for over 300 years.
Eco fashion designers
The VPL fashion runway came alive with creations from more than a dozen designers representing Canada, Estonia, the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain, Italy, Indonesia, and Australia.
Vancouver audiences saw Green Embassy, Atelier Zuhal, Sylvia Calvo, LJR Design by Linda Russel, Leah Kelly By Design, Samantha Faye Designs, Fabric of Nature, Amme Dennis, Atelier Biologico, Nenjaka, Ravencroth Textile Studio, Funk N Soul97, Mon, Fina Collection, Acca Atelier, Temple of Redress, Haruu Zuzana Hrubos and Olga Ignatenko.
Buya Subi
We were all treated to eco-conscious runway shows in which sustainable designs blended bespoke craftsmanship with contemporary flair.
The Handmade for the Earth collection featured Buya Subi, silk Sarong Donggala textiles hand-woven in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, for over 300 years.
Dr. Kuvan-Mills strongly believes that the most radical act in fashion is to make it by hand. The future is handmade.
Fashion is much like art
EFWA is working towards:
- Preserve cultural heritage in the face of globalization.
- Drive sustainable, zero-waste design practices.
- Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
For Dr. Kuvan-Mills, fashion is much like art, sparking conversations about sustainability and cultural preservation, shaping consumer choices and the industry’s future.
EFWA’s next fashion show will be held in Perth, Australia, from October 30 to November 1, 2026.
Photos: Simon Lau
