Intro
Photo: Circular Fashion Festival — Forget Fast Fashion Runway, Save the Children styled by Hazel Law; Yagan Square, Boorloo/Perth, October 2025. Photo by Felicity Niven.
The inaugural Circular Fashion Festival held in October 2025 was an amazing opportunity to discover the world of Circular Fashion — a future built on preloved stories, the power of repurposing, and bold regenerative design.
The two-day event featured a range of activations including immersive runway shows, preloved markets, exhibitions and panel talks with industry leaders in circular fashion.
Some of the designers highlighted in the festival included First Nations Designers: Kirrikin, Deadly Denim and Jalayimia Swim; and Regional Designers: Cassi-Jo Davis, Melaleuca Rise, and a curated stage installation by Botanical Stylist: Lara Rose-Bos.
Circular fashion design focuses on creating clothing and accessories that prioritise sustainability, ethical production, and waste reduction. It involves upcycling, using eco-friendly materials, and designing for longevity and reuse.
Research from the Australia Institute shows that ‘200,000+ tonnes of fashion binned in Australia every year and another 100,000 tonnes shipped offshore’.1
This discipline merges creativity with responsibility, encouraging a shift from fast fashion to mindful consumption and environmental stewardship.
The Circular Fashion Festival celebrates sustainable fashion as art, culture, and performance, aiming to shift mainstream attitudes by showcasing slow, circular fashion as creative and desirable.
1. Source: The Australia Institute: Textiles Waste in Australia report The Australia Institute.
Find out more about the Circular Fashion Festival