Meet the International Designers Showcasing at Eco Fashion Week Australia 2024

Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA) 2024 is just around the corner, and this year promises to be the most groundbreaking yet. Buckle up for a journey of exquisite designs by diverse fashion artists from all over the world, discover innovative materials, and powerful storytelling, all woven together with a deep commitment to sustainability.

The heart of EFWA lies in its incredibly diverse roster of international designers. These passionate pioneers are redefining the fashion landscape, proving that style doesn't have to come at the cost of the planet. From established names to rising stars, each designer brings a unique perspective, story, and cultural influence to the table.

  1. Sylvia Calvo (Sylvia Calvo BCN) - Spain

Sylvia Calvo is the visionary behind Sylvia Calvo Barcelona, an eco-friendly and ethical fashion brand working mainly with original used coffee bags to transform them into garments and complements in Barcelona, Spain, in 2015.

Together with five colleagues, she co-founded the Non-profit Association “Moda Sostenible Barcelona” (MSBCN), the first association of this kind, in order to promote the benefits of sustainable fashion, its creation, production and sale, and to bring it closer to consumers. Sustainable and Circular Fashion is an alternative to Fast Fashion, and can go hand in hand with stylish unique designs and good values. Sylvia is now a board member of ModaFAD, as well as the Gremi Artesà Tèxtil de Catalunya, and a member of the Circular Economy commission at PIMEC.

The brand is aiming to make sustainability part of the design, which is why their manufacturing process is entirely handcrafted and uses sustainable materials, both organic and recycled, with minimal impact on the environment. This way, each clothing piece obtains a unique and distinctive style.

Learn more about Sylvia’s work at www.sylviacalvobcn.com and follow her on Instagram.

  1. José Hendo - England

José Hendo is a British award-winning eco sustainable designer/artist of Ugandan origin. She is the founder of the José Hendo brand, based in London, the Bark To The Roots (B2TR) initiative and the R3 Campaign. She promotes the use of organic, eco - textiles and recycled materials to create unique - often avant-garde-garments, and accessories for both women and men. José Hendo challenges the throwaway culture, supports ethical values, and works towards protecting biodiversity, the environment and the barkcloth heritage.

She works extensively with Ugandan barkcloth, the production of which is centuries-old technique. It is considered the oldest cloth made by man and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Material in 2005. As the Mutuba tree regenerates another bark to be harvested every year for up to sixty years and more, this organic cloth that predates the weaving era is the best ambassador for sustainability.

Her designs are inspired by a mixture of Hendo’s African heritage and British influence. Barkcloth features in all her design series, used innovatively alongside other eco and organic fabrics. Upcycling is also a major part of her zero-waste approach. The most important thing in her work is the need to protect biodiversity, the environment, natural resources and the barkcloth heritage.

Learn more about her incredible work at www.josehendo.com or simply follow her on Instagram.

  1. Shravan Kummar - India

Indian fashion designer Shravan Kummar is known for crafting magic through intricately handcrafted vintage luxury ensembles. He started his clothing brand, Shravan’s Studio, in 1993 after graduating from the London School of Fashion Design. 

Kummar’s designs are not only biodegradable, but also skin-friendly. Kummar is also known for promoting handicrafts and workmanship from rural India. Apart from his clothing, he has expanded the company’s horizons into accessories, jewellery inspired from bygone eras.

Follow Shravan Kummar on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about his incredible work.

  1. Zuzana Hrubos - Czech Republic

Zuzana Hrubos from the Czech Republic is a visionary force behind innovative high-tech fashion and textile design. Zuzana’s work transcends boundaries, merging artistry with technology to redefine the fashion landscape. Her international exhibitions,collaborations, and research in textile engineering reflect a deep commitment to pushing the boundaries of creativity and design.

Zuzana’s creations embody a fusion of cutting-edge techniques and artistic flair, setting new standards in the world of high-tech fashion.

Learn more about her work at www.zuzanahrubos.com and follow her on Instagram.

  1. Gigi Forget (Salvij by Gigi) - Canada

Canadian designer Gigi Forget is the visionary behind Sal-vij by Gigi. Gigi’s forte lies in upcycling, deconstructing, and reconstructing fabrics to create high quality bold and quirky fashion, all infused with her unique style. 

What makes her label extraordinary is her remarkable talent for transforming old curtains and overlooked fabrics into high-quality fashion pieces. Every creation is a colourful testament to her love for intricate and bold details, all while championing sustainability. Gigi’s journey embodies the art of repurposing and reviving discarded materials into chic and eco-conscious fashion. 

To learn more, check out her Instagram or visit her Facebook page.

  1. Debora Frosini (Atelier Biologico) - Italy

Italian designer Debora Frosini is the visionary behind Atelier Biologico, a sustainable knitwear clothing brand and Atelier based in Firenze, Italy. Atelier Biologico is a combination of craftsmanship and sustainability: a love encounter between creativity and passion, where slow-fashion interprets knitwear with elegance and beauty.

In 2001 the knitwear workshop was born in the hands of Daniela, Debora’s mother, but it was only from 2021 that Debora decided to launch her own brand, and hence Atelier Biologico was born. The intent was to combine tradition and love for Florentine craftsmanship with sustainability, quality and research of beauty and design, making each garment unique.

Nestled in the heart of Florentine hills, Atelier Biologico passionately and lovingly supports Italian tradition by creating custom-made, handmade garments or giving you the possibility to repair and modify your own with a particular attention to the environment. It’s a brand that goes against the rules of fast-fashion and brings back the values of a slow fashion, quality and with a strong feeling of love for Nature.

To learn more, visit www.atelierbiologico.it/english/ or follow her on Instagram.

  1. Punam Mandal (Leysha) - India

Punam Mandal is the visionary designer and maker behind Leysha, a Conscious Eco-clothing label based in India. Punam’s aim is to make comfortable timeless clothing for you keeping our environment in mind. She achieves this through her unique innovative slow process of eco printing using real leaves, and flowers.

The label uses organic fabrics as well as natural dyes for making the products natural in all the possible ways. Hence they are providing eco friendly as well as skin friendly products for you. Leysha’s unique botanical prints will make you feel of Close to Nature.

Learn more about her work at www.leyshaecoclothing.com and follow her on Instagram.

Prepare to be amazed by visionaries who push the boundaries of sustainable materials and designers who weave powerful narratives into their collections. This year's theme, the Anthropocene, encourages designers to explore the impact of human activity on the planet through their clothing. The event will also enable you to discover artists who use fashion as a platform for social change. Expect breathtaking and moving collections that spark conversation, raise awareness about critical environmental issues, and inspire a more sustainable future.

Don't miss your chance to witness this extraordinary event! Join us at EFWA 2024 and experience the power of sustainable fashion firsthand.