EFWA 2024 Interview with Zuhal Kuvan-Mills, Founder

Can you share a little of your journey that led you to create art, teach and embrace a sustainable lifestyle.

My teenage and young adult years I lived in Istanbul, a very large dense city. I was always miserable living in a crowded city environment, what I call is concrete jungle. My happy times were always in nature. After I finished Veterinary Study I realized being a clinician wasn’t for me. Emotionally I can not tolerate cruelty to animals, so I decided to move to England, learn English and be a teacher.

I chose to study Environmental Science, and followed that with teacher training.. I was always creative, but at that times I saw my creativity as being a useful skill to decorate my home, sew clothes and create things. After 18 years in the Education sector in the UK as a Lecturer and Head of Applied, Animal Science, I return to school as an art student at the University of Creative Arts. After all these years, I finally felt I was in the right place .

When did the idea to found Eco Fashion Week Australia arise? What was the 18 month journey like to build towards your first event in 2017?

After Moving to Australia, I completed my studies in Visual arts and Textile Arts which always inspired me more than any other art forms. I set up my textile studio and Alpaca hobby farm on the outskirts of Perth. Here I created my first textiles. Later my sculptural presentation led me to move into fashion and conceptual presentation as a Fashion Artist.

Local rejection of my work as new designer heavily encouraged me to apply internationally –   to show my work to world. I showed my first collection on the runway in Vancouver, Paris, London, Beijing, and New Zealand. My strong conceptual presentation in environmental issues and unique one of a kind garments that were sculptural art stood out. My garments were very different from what was seen on ordinary fashion runways, especially those only focus on trends, mass productions, factory orders. I have learned a lot since then, and made many friends over the last five years as an international Australian Designer. In 2015/16 I began to think seriously about creating Australia’s only Eco Fashion Week event. It's focus would be to support many sustainable designers out there just like myself who do not fit traditional fashion events.

Setting up a Fashion Week !!! I had no idea where to even begin !!  I had incredible courage , support from my Canadian friends, especially Marilyn Wilson, as well as local artist friend Anita Moon ( RIP) It was a tough journey of 18 months. The event came together with like-minded people in Perth, interstate and international friends incredible professional help. Everyone who came on board volunteered to set and establish this artist run community event with a focus on sustainability, creativity and art  belonging to the community.

What came together without too many challenges?

There were an incredible amount of people in the community and many friends on the other side of the world who all eagerly put their hands up when I call for support to set up EFWA

What proved to be challenging to deal with?

The attitude towards eco fashion. It was seen a sa  hobby, op shop stuff, boring hippie gear in early days, and a luck of support from local governments – especially the Australian fashion industry.

How hard was it to gain recognition and support (industry and financial) for that first event?

It was very hard. We never received any financial support from anyone. We were totally self sufficient. Participating eco designers, as well as myself, financially managed to pull together to establish this event in the early days and worked hard to set the foundation. Without our army of volunteers, Eco Fashion Week Australia would never have happened.

Now that you have had several seasons of EFWA, can you share some of the high moments that happened?  What memories bring a smile to your face?

Getting together, hugs, reconnecting with familiar faces,  friends, our own team who come from different part of Australia as well as from overseas. It's like a big family reunion –  it's very exciting and makes me incredibly happy. Despite the hard work over many long months of preparation and administration work, the joy of the first day is always unforgettable. It's also great see the success of our EFWA designers following the event.

EFWA 2024 is a month-long celebration with so much going on. Can you share just some of the wonderful events that will be running?

Following the Covid distraction, I felt we needed to come back with a larger statement on sustainable fashion. We will be breaking a world record by creating the world’s longest sustainable catwalk on the ocean  ( 3.6 km ) on Busselton Jetty on November first. This day will also be the first day of our opening Gala to start our month long Festival. Over 100 models will be representing International, Interstate and Western Australian Designers, and community groups with sustainable garments, all while breaking a world record .

Other events that will run through the months are: Fashion Art Exhibitions at Perth and Busselton, Textile Art exhibition from Catalonian Textile Artists, Fashion Runway Shows for 9 days,  Visual Art Exhibition, Pop-up Shops, Styling workshops, Repair sessions, Clothes Swap, Community Sustainable Fashion Runways, Exhibitions, Music Concerts, Theatre, Dance, Artist talks, workshops and Seminar 

What do you most hope to achieve through this amazing platform for sustainability?

I hope to bring more awareness of sustainability by supporting eco designers, local artists and providing community education while utilising multiple artforms. As an artist, I hope to deliver the message as I used to do as a single designer with Green Embassyk, but this time on much bigger platform and in a more powerful way, with help of many designers. 

What do you most hope those following will take away from the event?

Everyone coming to our shows will take away a live small tree home with them tof plant in their backyard. It’s a symbolic remainder of beauty, the aesthetic of utilizing fashion as art, visual art, and all other events throughout the month. I hope this gift will remind them daily to take care of the environment and our planet. That little tree will grow up at their backyard as a permanent remainder of sustainability and care of our environment and wildlife, while turning Perth to greener city .

You will also be showing a new collection. Can you share a bit about what we will see on the runway?

Green Embassy also will be returning to the runway with a rather spectacular conceptual visual art presentation. There will be lots of whites, upcycled wedding dresses, lots of drawings, sculptural work, the garments will honour traditional textile art.

Anything else you'd like to share in closing?

Preparations are in full swing, with community groups, youth and senior’s centres. People are 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, Eco Fashion Week Australia aims to inspire and engage a global audience in the conversation about ethical and eco -friendly fashion practices.

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.

Links -