Who We Are
ECO FASHION WEEK AUSTRALIA (EFWA ) IS A PIONEERING INITIATIVE THAT SHOWCASES SUSTAINABLE FASHION WHILE PROMOTING ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. FOUNDED BY DR ZUHAL KUVAN-MILLS , A VISUAL ARTIST AND SUSTAINABLE FASHION ADVOCATE , EFWA HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ECO-FRIENDLY FASHION SINCE 2017.
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 Australian 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 after a month long Sustainable fashion festival events in Perth and Regional WA in Busselton , 2025 EFWA extended to Europe and in Florance showcased ‘Closet of The Anthropocene “ Exhibition and Runway shows to Italian Audience and we are excited to engage international project for 2026 onwards . 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 returns 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.
Antonius Prawira Yudianto -Diplomatic Project Coordinator
Antonius has been in charge for the desk of social and cultural affairs at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Perth since February 2023.
The responsibility in promoting Indonesian art, heritage and culture in Western Australia has led Antonius to collaborate in facilitating the first ever sustainable fashion show of Tenun Buya Subi at the Eco Fashion Week Australia Fashion Show at Busselton city in 2024.
Antonius is passionate for promoting Indonesian arts and culture in Australia. He is an avid supporter of sustainable art products, especially clothing and woven textiles.
Dr. Anne Farren - Academic Advisor
Dr Anne Farren is a maker, educator, curator and researcher in the fields of fashion design, and textiles. She originally trained as an arts educator with textiles as a major area of study with experience gained in spinning, weaving, print and dye providing the foundations of her practice and career in the arts.
In her practice as maker, educator, curator and researcher she is driven by a passion for design innovation and the craft of making, with both traditional and new technologies applied to the enhancement of the hand-made. Since the 1990s she has been engaged in collaborations with colleagues in Australia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and China, working on projects designed to support the development of local connection with a global community of practice focussed on the significance of cultural preservation to sustainability.
In her role as an academic at Curtin University, Dr Farren led the introduction of fashion studies at Curtin University and coordinated the course for over 20 years. She introduced studies in sustainable fashion, led a Western Australian team in the writing and launch of 'The State of Fashion & Textile Circularity in WA' Report and initiated the research project 'Closing the Loop on Textile Waste Locally'.
Anne draws on a lifetime of knowledge gained from living in regional, urban and city environments, working with community and engagement in making over the past 50 years, that have provided her with experience of fibre harvesting, in yarn making, weaving, knitting, dyeing, sewing and object construction. She brings to projects her journey as a maker, teacher, academic, researcher, facilitator, collaborator and mentor.
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.
Edward Quan- Project Editor
Edward Quan is a distinguished fashion and travel writer, recognized for his inspiring insights as a renowned guest speaker.
He actively champions a sustainable lifestyle while sharing his immersive adventures into natural wonders and diverse cultures.
His goal is to inspire travellers to explore the world while minimizing their environmental impact. Through engaging storytelling, he motivates both readers and audiences to experience the world with curiosity and effortless style.
Style Drama https://styledrama.com/
Simon Lau- Project Photographer &
Videography
Simon Lau, A Canadian photographer based on the outskirts of Vancouver, BC.
He started photography before 2007, capturing the BC Archery Association’s annual tournament, and later discovered his passion for fashion runway photography after assisting at a runway shows over the years, He had the chance to photograph shows across Canada and internationally, including New York Fashion Week, Miami Swim Week, Eco Fashion Week Australia, and Closet of the Anthropocene Florence 2025.
Locally, He has worked with Vancouver Fashion Week for over 13 years, along with Vancouver Kids Fashion Week, African Fashion Week, International Fashion Gala, African Fashion Week, Toronto Kids Fashion week, Galm Z Gala, and Bridal Fashion Week. He is also involved with Help Portrait and a Maple Ridge–based charity supporting graduating teens in need. Volunteering with these organizations reminds him why he loves photography — it’s not just about the images, but about the people and stories behind them.
Simon Lau Photography www.instagram.com/slauimages
Alexis Winch-Buist- Photographer &
Documentary
Alexis Winch-Buist is a Western Australian photographer and filmmaker whose creative work explores the intersection of sustainability, fashion, and visual storytelling. With a background in fine arts and a growing portfolio of editorial and runway photography, she has collaborated with Eco Fashion Week Australia both locally and internationally, including capturing over 20 designer collections at the Closet of the Anthropocene festival in Florence.
Alexis is passionate about creating imagery that inspires change and is deeply engaged in building creative opportunities for regional artists through collaborative, community-driven projects.
Alexis Rose Visit me at https://alexis-rose-photography.mypixieset.com/ "Play is the mother of all Art." - Alvar Aalto
Dene Selby - Modeling Team Manager
DENE SELBY has worked as a model all her life in fashion and television and importantly, Personal Development.
It has been a wonderful career where Dene has been sharing her knowledge and training students for over 30 years.
Not everyone joins for modelling. Dene encourages shy students and people who suffer from anxiety as well as people who are on a spectrum, and marginalized groups, including gender fluid. Dene is passionate for providing inclusive training for people who don't necessarily meet fashion industries with outdated standards.
Dene always focuses on modeling confidence building on all aspects of Personal Development, and by supporting her students from many walk of life.
Dene’s models have been recognised for so many modelling industry awards as well as invited to international shows .
Most importantly, Dene trains people to be their Personal Best.
Dene Selby Modelling & Imaging https://deneselbymodellingperth.com/