Who We Are
EFWA is BACK !!!
TITLED ‘CLOSET OF THE ANTHROPOCENE ‘ EFWA2024 FASHION ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS WILL EXPLORE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHILE FOCUS ON CREATIVITY , INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND EDUCATION.
JUST LIKE OUR PREVIOUS EFWA EVENTS EXPECT NOTHING TRADITIONAL LIKE PRINTED INVITATIONS, GIFT BAGS OR TREND FOCUS COLLECTIONS FOR MASS PRODUCTION.
EFWA PROUDLY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY, KEEPING ART AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THEIR ART WORK WHILST USING FASHION AS A MEDIUM.
Our Story
EFWA ( Eco Fashion Week Australia ) artist run initiative and founded by Perth/WA based Visual artist Zuhal Kuvan-Mills. EFWA is for everyone, features fashion art runway shows, exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, seminars as well as Anita Moon Award of Excellence, Upcycle Challenge and present student designer shows by collaborating with educational establishments.
In a world where fashion excess and hyper consumption dominate the scene, Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA) launched in 2017 and quickly became the largest eco fashion week in the world in terms of length, number of eco designers and events which were powered by local community and volunteers.
EFWA offered traditional runway shows in two states, Western Australia and Queensland to support and provide a platform for established, emerging and student eco fashion designers. EFWA hosted seminars in major Australian universities in partnership with several conservation organizations, international and national industry experts specialized in sustainability with the aim of educating the public about the importance of sustainability and slow fashion.
In 2024 we are excited to bring you a new format, a new look and an extended season. Watch this space!
Meet the Team
Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills - Creative Director & Founder
Founder and Curator of Eco Fashion Week Australia, Visual artist and Sustainable Environmentally conscious haute-couture fashion artist . The Western Australia-based artist has two unique labels to her name – Atelier Zuhal, an artisan studio specialising in handmade textiles alpaca and merino fibres, and Green Embassy, a cutting-edge avant-garde ‘slow fashion’ clothing label employing earth-friendly, handcrafted techniques.
Zuhal began her professional career as a Veterinary Surgeon graduating from Istanbul University in 1986. She then worked as an Animal Science , Environmental Science and Conservation lecturer in England until 2004.In 2004 she return to her biggest passion of Contemporary Art, she studied at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham, England and in 2010, graduated with a Visual Arts degree from Curtin University in WA with several awards.
Zuhal is probably Australia’s most well known Eco fashion artist
Justine McKnight - Curator
Justine McKnight is an Australian artist, designer and academic who’s practice has included sculpture, textiles, fashion and performance. She is course coordinator and senior lecturer in Fashion and Textiles at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, which encompasses an innovative and niche approach to fashion strongly aligned with visual arts creative methodologies and emphasis on process informed design. Justine’s creative practice and teaching draws on her background in textiles, strong understanding of materiality and form, and interest in deconstruction. Her practice investigates how cloth and worn forms carry references to memory, histories, narrative and place through process and contextual references.
Justine has exhibited garment forms and artworks in exhibition contexts nationally and internationally with inclusion in [ex]changing Traditions, Perth and Kyoto, 2007, Skin to Skin: a dialogue between art and fashion, Fremantle, 2008, Becoming, Shanghai, 2013 and Forming Desire, Perth, 2013. She has worked on collaborative projects since 2010, most notably with Helen Britton on the Jewellery for T shirts series, shown in Perth, Melbourne, Amsterdam, Munich and New York between 2010 and 2015 and the FORM initiative Awkward Beauty which toured from the Midland Railway Workshop in Perth, 2010 to ANU Gallery, Canberra and Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Her work is held in the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Janet Holmes a’ Court and private collections.
Marilyn R. Wilson - Fashion Editor
Marilyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer, published author and speaker with a passion for interviewing. Her current career began at the age of 50 when she threw caution to the wind and answered a Craigslist ad from a New York fashion magazine, even though she had no experience. When they surprisingly accepted two of her story ideas, the doors opened on a whole new career that included interviewing people from around the globe, being co-owner of a fashion magazine and publishing two books - proof positive it is never too late to embrace a new passion. Wilson was honoured to be on the EFWA team in 2017 and again in 2018. She looks forward to adding her support to the totally re-imagined next EFWA launching in November 2024.
Jane Milburn - Sustainability Advisor
Sustainability consultant Jane Milburn believes in the power of adaptation in the natural world and her own. After agricultural science and leadership study applied to a career in rural communications and advocacy, Jane navigated a unique pathway to influence change in the way we dress in a climate-changing world. She is the founder of Textile Beat, author of Slow Clothing: finding meaning in what we wear, and won a prestigious Churchill Fellowship. As a natural-fibre champion, trained permaculture teacher and lifelong maker, Jane is at the forefront of social change in Australia and a keen supporter of Eco Fashion Week Australia.
Gemma Ben- Ary - Artistic Director
Gemma is an independent visual artist and curator based in Perth, Western Australia and also hold the position of Executive Director at Ellenbrook Arts, where she is responsible for the curating and management of the Ellenbrook Art Gallery and associated community programming. She is also the Chairperson of Art on the Move and Galleries West. She holds Bachelor of Arts (Visual Art, Writing) from Edith Cowan University, and an Advanced Diploma in Fine and Craft (Sculpture) from the Central Metropolitan College of TAFE. She worked for the past twelve years in arts management roles in parallel with her artistic practice that centres around ecofeminism, feminist art and basket-weaving from her home studio in Darlington.
Claire Foote - Hair Styling Director
Claire, a distinguished hairstylist hailing from the United Kingdom, has had the privilege of collaborating with internationally acclaimed hairdressing luminaries such as Marc Young and Vidal Sassoon. In 2012, she established her own sanctuary of beauty and wellness in Mandurah, aptly named 'Claire's Organic Hair.' This holistic salon is dedicated to offering clients an environment minimised in toxicity. Claire meticulously curates a selection of only the most organic and sustainable brands, ensuring that her salon remains at the forefront of eco-conscious beauty.
Dr. Anne Farren - Academic Advisor
Anne Farren was responsible for the introduction of fashion studies at Curtin University and course coordinator for over 20 years. Sustainability has always been central to her practice and was introduced as a major unit of study for fashion design students in 2010. She is a researcher in the areas of fashion design, textile art and exhibition curation. Issues of circularity are overarching considerations in her practice and research. She recently led the WA Circular Fashion Consortium in the writing and launch of 'The State of Fashion & Textile Circularity in WA' Report and is a key member of the School of Design & the Built Environment 'Closing the Loop on Textile Waste Locally' research team.
Sylvia Calvo - EU Respresentative
Sylvia Calvo, born in Barcelona, studied English Philology and a MBA in Chicago, USA, where she lived for about 15 years. After attending a conference about Eco-Fashion in 2012, she started to investigate sustainable fashion and the alternatives available to have a positive social, economic and environmental impact in the fashion industry. In 2015, she created “Sylvia Calvo BCN”, working mainly with original used coffee bags to transform them into garments and complements. Furthermore, Sylvia co-founded the Nonprofit Association “Moda Sostenible Barcelona” (MSBCN), the first association of this kind in Spain, in order to promote the benefits of sustainable fashion, its creation, production and sale, and to bring it closer to consumers. Sylvia stands out as a speaker and promoter of circular fashion and circular economy. Sylvia is now a board member of ModaFad, Gremi Artesà Tèxtil de Catalunya, and PIMEC, as well as a member of PIMEC’s Circular Economy Commission.
Simone Fleming - Choreographer
Simone Fleming is the Director, Producer and choreographer of RUNWAY’PRODUCTIONS pty ltd. Her background includes working as a Model, Actor, Dancer & Choreographer, Marketing & Advertising and owning and operating RUNWAY PRODUCTIONS pty ltd for over thirty years. Producing Runway shows for Fashion Houses, Retailers, Designers Shopping Centres, Launches and Expos.
After a successful career in both Modelling & Acting of more than 30 years, Simone realised there was a huge need for a service to provide the fashion industry with a One Stop fashion show organisation. Opening up Runway Productions pty ltd in the 80’s.
Taking the stress and hard work out of arranging your own Runway Show. The idea was the supply the full service of organising a Runway Fashion show for Marketing Managers, Fashion Houses, Designers, Retailers and Shopping Centres. After much success, and having worked with major Fashion Houses, Department Stores & Shopping Centres, Simone continues to provide ongoing Fashion Marketing service to the Fashion Industry.
Hazel Law - Eco Stylist
Hazel is a sustainable fashion expert and circular stylist, specialising in curating wearable wardrobes using the clothes you already have.
Hazel's services empower you to look incredible, dress authentically and change your consumer habits through wearing the most sustainable garments; clothes you already own.
She offers personal styling, workshops and Sustainable Style Tours to teach you how to successfully buy pre-loved fashion that you will wear again and again.She teaches you how to carefully curate a selection of pre-loved items that truly maximise the wearability of your wardrobe.
Hazel has over a decade of experience in shopping pre-loved fashion and uses her in depth knowledge of how to successfully shop second hand to help you buy beautiful, high quality garments that blend seamlessly with your existing wardrobe that you will wear again and again.
Having a “sustainable wardrobe” does not mean throwing away all of your fast fashion buys and replacing them with organic ethically made cotton pieces! Having a sustainable wardrobe means using what you have and making it work for you and your lifestyle.
You have to feel comfortable/confident/capable in your clothing for it to not only be sustainable from a planetary perspective but also from a personal perspective!
Ryan Cauilan - Makeup Director
Ryan Cauilan is an Australian Makeup Artist with a Diploma of Makeup Artistry for Screen and Media from the Australian College of Specialist Makeup. His passion for Makeup Artistry has led him to explore the world of Theatre, Performance Art and Drag. He is known as a Creative Collaborator in the Hair and Fashion Industries where he is sourced for competitions and special creative projects due to his expertise and enthusiasm in helping fellow artists realise their creative vision. He has been sought after as Lead Makeup Artist and Director of Makeup on many Fashion and Hair Runways over the years. He has also been involved in Theatre and TV Media projects. He was previously involved in EFWA in 2018 as a Makeup Artist. This year, he returns as Director of Makeup Artistry and Runway Model.
Cate Mccullough - MC
Local Government Councillor for the City of Swan and a passionate environmental advocate- Cate McCullough brings a range of experience and creative inspiration to her role as MC for Eco Fashion Week Australia.
Born in the wheatbelt of Western Australia, Cate’s background in Education, Events Management & Interior Design keeps her busy with a range of roles that include advocacy, social capital enhancement and community capacity building. She is passionate about diverse, inclusive and creative collaborations that facilitate dynamic outcomes for those she works with and when she’s not dreaming up new ideas or facilitating potential partnerships, she loves being outside in the natural environment.
Cate is a flautist, vocalist and fashion enthusiast and she loves horse riding and spending time with close friends over good food.
Sinead Coulter - Marketing Manager
With a strong background in Marketing and Public Relations Sinead specialises in providing innovative marketing solutions and crafting strategic marketing strategies that drive success.
Passionate about sustainability and fashion, Sinead has played a key role in promoting Eco Fashion Week Australia's mission to spotlight eco-conscious designers and their creations.
Her expertise in marketing has been instrumental in building brand awareness and engaging audiences across various platforms, making her a vital part of the EFWA team.