The longest jetty in the southern hemisphere (and the second longest in the world) will be transformed into what is hoped will be the world’s longest catwalk this November, to become the centrepiece of Australia’s biggest-ever sustainable fashion festival.
Busselton Jetty, at the heart of Western Australia’s famous South West region, will play host to spectacular fashion shows during the month-long Sustainable Fashion Festival 24, which will showcase the latest in eco- friendly, ethical, and sustainable fashion from designers across the globe.
Presented by Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA), this ground-breaking event promises to transform the Australian fashion landscape and redefine the industry.
2024 will be the fourth time the international festival of fashion arts has taken place. It will bring together fashion enthusiasts, designers and sustainability advocates from Australia and around the world in a packed programme of events, set against the stunning backdrop of WA’s South West region in Busselton and Perth. Some of the events festival-goers can expect to see include:
Opening parade
Catwalk shows
Artist talks and workshops
Fashion art exhibitions
Textile art exhibition
Pop-up shops
Upcycling challenge
Seminars
Community sustainable fashion and art exhibitions
Clothes swap and repair café
Live music
Dance
Theatre Festival Director Zuhal Kuvan Mills says the festival 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 the impact of human activity on climate change.
“It’s been estimated that 92 million tonnes of textile waste goes into landfill around the world every year,” says Zuhal.
Cheap fast fashion means people are wearing many of their clothes just a few times before throwing them out. That comes with a huge cost for the environment 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,” Zuhal says.
Photo: Zuhal Kuvan-Mills. Model: Phoebe Marinich
“The stunning locales of Busselton and Perth will serve as an ideal canvas to showcase the transformative power of sustainable fashion.”
Preparations for the festival are in full swing, with community groups, youth and seniors centres already taking part in workshops exploring different aspects of sustainable fashion.
“By curating an immersive experience that seamlessly merges the beauty of nature with cutting-edge sustainable designs, EFWA aims to inspire and engage a global audience in the conversation about ethical and eco-friendly fashion practices,” says Zuhal.
“Beyond the runway, the Sustainable Fashion Festival 2024 offers a rich tapestry of experiences. As well as sustainable fashion workshops, members of the public can attend insightful artist talks and explore exhibitions that delve into the intersection of sustainable design and environmental stewardship.
“EFWA invites everyone to join the movement, celebrate sustainable fashion, and be a part of the positive change that the fashion industry needs,” she says.
“We’re so excited to be bringing this amazing event to life and Busselton Jetty is the perfect location to kick off the festival. We’re looking forward to people from all over Australia and the world joining us on a sustainable fashion journey. Everyone, no matter what their age, background or fashion sense can get involved! Find out more about what’s on at out website at www.ecofashionweekaustralia.com."
About Busselton Jetty
Busselton Jetty stretches 1.8 kilometres from the town’s foreshore into Geographe Bay, making it the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.
Construction on the jetty began in 1865. It was extended several times over the following century until it reached its current length in 1960.
Originally used to export grain, livestock and timber, the jetty was also at the centre of Busselton’s developing tourism industry in the early 1900’s. In 1911 bathing facilities were added, as well as a pavilion for band concerts and other activities.
The jetty was closed to shipping in 1972 and was threatened with demolition.
It was badly damaged by a cyclone in 1978. In the following years, a community group, the Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association, raised money to begin restoring the jetty, and established the current railway line and underwater observatory.
Government funding enabled the remaining refurbishment of the jetty to be completed in 2012.
Today, the heritage-listed jetty is an award-winning, eco-certified tourist destination that attracts thousands of visitors every year. It’s also an integral part of Busselton’s local life, used for fishing, walking, swimming, diving and snorkelling.
For more information, media inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact:
Dr Zuhal Kuvan Mills, Festival Director
www.ecofashionweekaustralia.com
P: 0407 479 520
E: zuhalkmills@gmail.com
Photo: Zuhal Kuvan-Mills, Model: Hayley Beardman