Rooted in the principles of sustainable fashion, the EFWA promotes slow, local production, recycling, and reuse. These values are deeply embedded in traditional craftmaking, honouring the long-standing practices of Indonesian artisans.

Above Designer: Heaven Tungga, Model: Charlize Parkinsonn, Photography: Alexis Rose Photography

Related story: EFWA Florence Edition

Goals and Objectives

“The EFWA Buya Subi Project aims to provide promotion, education, investment, and cultural awareness to rejuvenate traditional weaving in Donggala artisanal textiles, safeguarding their future,” said EFWA Founder and Director, Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills. “The proliferation of cheap, fast-fashion textiles, such as polyester, poses environmental risks through toxic production and undermines the value of handmade textiles. The slow production rates of traditional crafts struggle to compete with fast fashion. Resulting in skilled artisans unable to pass down their expertise due to limited income opportunities from handmade fabrics.”

Significance of Donggala textiles

In Central Sulawesi, traditional textiles hold immense economic and cultural significance, fostering identity and community. Yet, like many local textile traditions, they face the risk of losing ancient knowledge and craftsmanship.

Traditional Donggala textiles are a vital part of Indonesian cultural traditions, closely tied to local customs, stories, and identities. To ensure the survival of these centuries-old crafts, it is crucial to establish supportive structures that protect artisans and highlight the relevance of their work in today’s society.

UNESCO Recognition and Sustainable Development

UNESCO has recognised traditional craftsmanship as an intangible heritage that requires protection and promotion under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Opportunities for sustainable livelihoods exist in cultural tourism, and the traditional craft sector plays a key role in achieving SDGs related to women’s empowerment, reducing inequality, increasing access to employment, and strengthening sustainable production and consumption.

EFWA Global Engagement

EFWA is a proud member of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, which champions transparent, inclusive, and transformative engagement among global stakeholders. The Network fosters cross-industry collaboration and partnerships with the United Nations system, accelerates innovation and knowledge exchange, and promotes members’ advancement of sustainable development through impactful solutions.

The EFWA Indonesia Buya Subi Project is set to showcase Donggala’s fabrics on global runways in 2026. More details will be provided as they become available.

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Above photo: Atelier Biologico Firenze, Italy

Related story: African Fashion Week Vancouver: Joyful and colourful

The fashion exhibition and runway shows showcase the work of various artists and designers, including Atelier Biologico Firenze from Italy, Green Embassy from Australia, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, Sylvia Calvo from Spain, Zuzana Hrubos from the Czech Republic, Gia Dianna from the USA, and others.

There was an exceptional display of talented eco-designers from Australia, including Amee Dennis, Beads N Pods, Emergent Art Glass, Emily Craig studio, Fabric of Nature, Funk N Soul 97, Keli Studios, Leah Kelly, Ashley Majoni, Mon, Regis, and others, who were prominently showcased in both evening runway shows. 

EFWA Florence edition featured artist talks with several speakers throughout the two-day gathering at Spedale del Bigallo, a heritage hostel located on a hillside with views of Florence. It is believed that the original building on the property was a hospital constructed in the 13th century for the needy, the ill, and pilgrims.

In the early 15th century, civic records indicate the addition of a church attached to a main building that featured rooms on two floors. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the church stood a residence for priests and a home for the farmer.

Today, it is known as the Bigallo hostel, offering dormitories and rooms with a total of 52 beds, located within one of the region’s most historic accommodations. It provides guests with a connection to Florence’s history, a stunning garden, and a panoramic terrace for dining, all complemented by an unforgettable view of the city.  

Florence is recognized as the birthplace of Italian fashion, especially during the 1950s. While Milan later emerged as the fashion capital, Florence continues to hold a significant place in the narrative of Italian style, particularly for its contributions to bringing the Italian fashion industry to the forefront of the global scene. Therefore, it is only fitting that EFWA selected Florence to host their opening global fashion show.

EFWA’s next conceptual fashion art show global tour stop is set for Vancouver, Canada, in September. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Photos: Simon Lau

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EFWA is more than a sustainable fashion runway show; it also includes gallery exhibitions and seminars that educate the public on the ever-increasing fashion waste and its effects on the environment and society. 

Above photo: Sylvia Calvo, Barcelona, Spain

More fashion news:

Green Embassy’s Ghost Glacier collection opens EFWA Busselton

Australians, on average, purchase 56 new garments a year, double the global average, according to the Australia Institute. Today, Australians are the biggest clothing consumers, creating a 300,000-ton-mountain problem of textile waste.

Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills curated the Closet of the Anthropocene to celebrate their community’s creativity by re-imagining existing garments and saving them from landfills.

On opening night, invited guests at the Ellenbrook Art Gallery were treated to a private fashion show featuring over 50 models representing local and international designers participating in EFWA in Busselton and Perth. 

Several of the fashions displayed were outstanding: Ghost Glacier, a beautiful blue floor-length dress by Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills that symbolized the melting glaciers. 

Sylvia Calvo’s outfit is constructed from hand-painted silk by Anna Albert, and discarded jute coffee bags were eye-catching.

Remarkable was the R3 Warrior Women garment, crafted by Uganda-born, British-based eco-stainable designer Jose Hendo, which was constructed from Barkcloth, an organic-bio-degradable cloth manufactured with no added chemicals or textile agents. 

The Closet of the Anthropocene brings to light one of today’s most significant global waste issues and should not be missed. 

EFWA is working to build awareness and find workable solutions to save our planet. 

For exhibition hours, visit Ellenbrook Art Gallery.

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More Fashion News:

EFWA aims for world record with longest sustainable fashion runway show

Under the artistic direction of Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills, the new eco-fashion collection titled “Ghost Glacier” conveys a message about climate change and the melting of the world’s glaciers.

On the runway, the first model was dressed in a stylist’s long white dress, symbolizing our Artic white glacier. As her runway show progressed, each following model’s outfits became bluer, with less white symbolizing the disappearance of our world glaciers. 

Her collection celebrates the spirit of sustainability. However, the twelve fashion dresses in her collection that evening were world-class and could easily have been found on Paris, Milan or London runways.

Green Embassy’s opening show was just the beginning of EFWA fashion shows showcasing designers from around the globe. Fashionistas are guaranteed to experience some of the best eco-friendly yet stylish fashion for men and women. EFWA ‘s Busselton and Perth show calendar can be found on their website.

Green Embassy is known for its unique fusion of timeless textile sculptures, traditional handmade techniques, organically certified materials and luxury quality. Their wearable art pieces elevate slow fashion to luxury.

Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills is the artist, designer, and earth ambassador for Green Embassy, Australia’s first internationally recognized organic fashion label. She focuses on modern, minimalist, functional, and alluring garments for earth-friendly consumers. Zuhal is inspired by ancient textile crafting traditions and the vivid beauty of Western Australia’s bush landscapes.

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More fashion news: VIFW empowers Indigenous designers

Above Photo: Funk N Soul 97

This world-record EFWA opening runway show celebrated creativity and sustainability, showcasing the innovative work of over 50 talented fashion designers from Busselton and around the globe. The fashions ranged from upcycled textiles and garments to handmade accessories made from local materials.

The event, which attracts fashion designers from around the globe, focuses on creativity, innovation, sustainability, and education. Designers from Australia, Canada, Columbia, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the USA were represented on the runway.

The spirit of the community came alive as diverse groups collaborated to create stunning fashion designs for EFWA’s world-record runway show. With participation from the St. John of God Foundation, Ellenbrook Youth Centre, Edith Cowan University, Regis, Country Women’s Association, and Cape Care, this event showcased creativity and the power of collective inspiration.

The venue was simply breathtaking. The Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden pier in the Southern Hemisphere, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and white sand beaches. Busselton is a small town about 220 km southwest of Perth and is a growing tourist destination in Western Australia.

All eyes were focused on a group of inspiring fashion models from the Busselton and Perth region, adorned in stunning sustainable clothing, who gracefully began their runway walk from the shoreline.

Their journey along the entire length of the jetty to an underwater observatory at the end of the pier included a magnificent return trip under the sunset light. It was a beautiful spectacle that lasted about one hour that captivated the audience. It showcased not only stylish fashion but also a commitment to sustainability.

You can watch for more news from EFWA in the weeks ahead.

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Dr. Kuvan-Mills undertook carpal tunnel surgery at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital when an idea to repurpose caregiver scrubs into a fashion line was born. 

“I was speaking to the nurse on duty pre-surgery, and we discussed the amount of potential textile waste across many industries where staff wear uniforms. A discussion with this environmentally conscious nurse on her uniform’s potential destiny just before I entered the operating theatre was the source of my idea,” said Dr. Kuvan-Mills. 

Gift of Hope

With the idea firmly planted, Dr Kuvan-Mills then discovered St John of God Foundation’s ‘Gift of Hope’ project, which supports cancer patients experiencing financial hardship related to their treatment. 

In discussion with EFWA local designers, Green Embassy, Fabric of Nature and Deadly Denim, Dr. Kuvan-Mills inspired the group to create a clothing collection from hospital uniforms to present during what has now become a month-long sustainable fashion festival in Busselton and Perth this November. 

The ‘Aqua’ collection is inspired by water shortages and changing weather patterns. It will be showcased during the month-long festival and will be available for sale on the show night of November 16 at Midland Junction Arts Centre. All proceeds from the EFWA sale that evening will be donated to St John of God Foundation’s Gift of Hope project.

EFWA at Busselton Jetty

Part of the collection will also feature on the festival’s opening night on Friday, November 1st. The festival will also seek to set a world record with a 3.6 km fashion catwalk over the Indian Ocean on Busselton Jetty, with local, national, and international designers and many creative community groups participating. 

Related Story: Discover the luxurious Aplaca fashion collection by Ahblo

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The Busselton Jetty, the world’s second longest and southern hemisphere’s longest timber-piled jetty, will be transformed into the world’s longest catwalk in November for Australia’s Sustainable Fashion Festival 24. 

Located in the heart of Western Australia’s South West, this month-long festival will host spectacular global fashion shows. Its goal is to promote eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable fashion.

Related story: The IT bag for spring

Presented by Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA), this ground-breaking event will transform the Australian fashion landscape and redefine the industry. 

The event will draw fashion lovers, designers, and sustainability advocates worldwide to the festival in Busselton and Perth. Set against the stunning backdrop of WA’s South West region. 

The festival includes runway shows, artist’s talks and workshops, fashion art exhibits, an upcycling challenge, sustainable fashion, and art exhibits.

Festival Director Zuhal Kuvan Mills says the event will provide a global stage for designers to present fashion in the new age of the Anthropocene, a term used to describe an epoch shaped by human activity’s impact on climate change.

“It’s been estimated that 92 million tonnes of textile waste go into landfills around the world every year,” says Zuhal. Cheap, fast fashion means people wear many of their clothes just a few times before throwing them out.

That comes at a huge environmental cost, and we urgently need to find ways to make fashion more sustainable.

The Sustainable Fashion Festival 24 will present ‘Closet of the Anthropocene’ to showcase the collections of more than 80 international and Australian designers who source sustainable materials and textiles to create unique pieces.

Mills is organizing her fourth Sustainable Fashion Festival in Australia, and Busselton Jetty is the perfect kickoff venue.

They look forward to inviting the world to join them on a sustainable fashion journey. Everyone can get involved, no matter their age, background, or fashion sense. You can learn more at EFWA.

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Busselton Jetty is the inaugural fashion venue of a three-month series of EFWA runway shows, exhibitions, talks and workshops in Perth, Busselton, Fremantle, and Geraldton beginning in November 2024.

Busselton Jetty

The heritage-listed jetty is one of Western Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and at 1.8 kms, holds the record as the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere and the second largest jetty in the world. 

To walk the length of the timber-piled extension in Geographe Bay will take you about 25 minutes. It even has its own train system for those who prefer to sit back and enjoy the 3.6 kms round trip journey.

Busselton Jetty attractions include an Interpretive Centre and Underwater Observatory, plus it is recognized as one of Australia’s top shore dives, home to over 300 marine species. Below the Jetty piles create an artificial reef, host to a multitude of vividly-coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates.

EFWA 2024

EFWA24 will present ’Closet of the Anthropocene” to showcase the collections of more than 60 international and Australian designers who source sustainable materials and textiles to create one of a kind fashions.

Eco Fashion Week Australia 2024 will provide a global stage for designers to present fashion in a new age of the Anthropocene, a term used to describe an epoch shaped the impact of human activity on climate change.

EFWA founder, curator and visual artist Zuhâl Kuvan-Mills said EFWA was delighted to be partnering with the iconic Busselton Jetty, an award-winning Advance Eco Tourism operator in Western Australia.

Related Story: EFWA 2022 hosts largest international sustainable fashion week

Human impact on climate change

“We are now working together to bring global attention to our concerns surrounding the human impact on climate change, with the stunning backdrop of the jetty becoming a canvas for our fashion artists,” Dr. Kuvan-Mills said.

Updated: This story has been update with EFWA rescheduled in November 2024.

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Sylvia Calvo’s unique designs answer the question what do you get when you cross high fashion with waste fabric? In fact, creating fashionable collections out of burlap sacks is the challenge that she wakes up to every morning.

Recently, Sylvia Calvo returned to Eco Fashion Week Australia with her second collection which truly impressed. She took as inspiration the arts and culture of her hometown of Barcelona which hugs the coastline of the majestic Mediterranean Sea.

This stylish Spaniard’s fashionable collection, which included pieces for both men and women, used not only reclaimed coffee bean bags but also organic cotton and hemp. This mix of fabrics, used to construct wearable separates, gave us a more diversified collection and broadened the appeal of Calvo’s unique brand.

Any good fashion designer needs to evolve over time and I was pleasantly surprised with the addition of impressive hand painting and embroidery on her fabrics. This experimentation with new techniques is what makes Calvo stand out as an eco-designer.

Although they are made out of waste fabrics, there’s nothing throwaway about Calvo’s clothes. One outfit that impressed on the runaway was an emerald green skirt with a blouse covered in alpaca and natural gems applied on coffee bag burlap. Calvo also showcased a men’s tailored jacket with hand crafted wooden buttons that would not have looked out of place on the streets of Barcelona.

She presented t-shirts and light outerwear and, new for 2019, is a line of bags, offering an entry level eco-fashion item for those just dipping their toes into greening their closets and thus widening her brand’s appeal.

Sylvia Calvo’s motto is “waste to value” and it can’t be denied that her designs impact our environment only minimally while offering wearable and stylish clothing for today’s eco conscious men and women.

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The runway show consists of sustainable fashions from first- and second-year students made a marked as this young talent created eco-friendly designs can be fun and personable.

Not surprising as Curtin University is global campus with almost one-third of its student body consist of international students. Offering up a multi-cultural and inclusive environment to develop young minds.

Here are some of the looks from Curtin University sustainable fashion student show.

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