In a world of waste, we choose zero.

In a world of machines, we choose the human touch.

Last May, Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA) brought the Buya Subi Project fashion show to a full house at the Vancouver Public Library.

Led by founder and creative director Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills, the runway showcased work from 21 designers from Australia and beyond.

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Dr. Kuvan-Mills is no stranger to the Vancouver fashion community. Nearly a decade ago, she debuted one of her first collections at Vancouver Fashion Week.

Today, she calls the city her second home, crediting its designers and journalists with reconizing her talent and encouraging her path in fashion.

The Buya Subi Project launches a new four-year EFWA initiative exploring the intersection of culture and sustainable fashion.

It is a landmark collaboration between EFWA, the Central Sulawesi government, the Consulate General of Indonesia in Vancouver and the UN Sustainable Development Goals initiative. 

At the centre of the project are women in Palu, Indonesia, who handcraft silk textiles on manual looms using a tradition more than 300 years old. EFWA is helping preserve that heritage at a time when globalization continues to pressure local craft communities.

Buya Subi, a traditional textile from Central Sulawesi, is more than a handwoven fabric. It embodies community, tradition, and a deep respect for the environment.

With support from the Sulawesi government, each of the 21 participating designers received two square metres of Buya Subi fabric and was invited to create a runway look around it.

The resulting pieces honoured the textile’s cultural significance, foregrounded environmental responsibility, and helped create a pathway for local women to build a sustainable craft economy through tourism.

Ultimately, the Buya Subi Project is about more than preserving textile heritage, craftsmanship, and design. It is also an invitation to rethink how—and why—we buy fashion.

Photos: Simon Lau

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