Featuring repair workshops, clothing swaps, upcycling demonstrations and panel discussions, the festival aims to show how people can make more sustainable choices without giving up their interest in fashion.
Co-founder Hazel Law says the festival was created to make sustainability practical and approachable, she emphasises that circular fashion must be something people can actively participate in.
Making sustainability accessible
“We want to give people the confidence to repair, reuse and rethink their clothes,” she says.
“Small actions like mending a seam or swapping instead of buying new are just some of the things we can do to collectively shift how our community approaches fashion.”
Across the CBD, attendees will find visible mending workshops, upcycling demonstrations, repair stations, swap markets, and panel discussions featuring local designers and sustainability advocates.
The festival also highlights Perth’s growing maker community, with stalls showcasing handmade garments, recycled textiles and small Australian-owned slow fashion brands.
Perth-based model and ethical fashion advocate Ivanya Aliya says the festival reflects a shift in how young people engage with fashion.
She says the event reflects a shift in how young people engage with style.
“People my age want fashion that lasts. We’re tired of clothes that fall apart after a few wears.
“The festival shows how easy it is to repair, swap or upcycle instead of buying new. It makes sustainability feel fun and creative rather than restrictive.”
Aliya will appear in several festival activations, including a youth-focused panel and a styling demonstration using second hand and upcycled garments.
She says her involvement is driven by a desire to make ethical fashion more visible.
“I used to think sustainable fashion was expensive or niche,” she says.
“But events like this prove it’s for everyone. You don’t need a big budget – just curiosity.”
The festival’s founders say community engagement is one of the strongest indicators of its success. Yagan Square’s central location encourages participation from families, students, workers and passers-by, making the event accessible to a wider audience.
Co-founder Charlie Smith says this accessibility is intentional. “Circular fashion only works when people feel connected to it,” he says.
“We want the festival to be a place where people learn, share, experiment and talk. It’s not a runway – it’s a community space.”
The workshops remain one of the festival’s biggest draw cards, reaching capacity within hours of registration opening in previous years. This year’s lineup includes sessions on natural dyeing, basic sewing skills, visible mending and creative upcycling.
Repair, reuse and swap
For many attendees, these workshops provide their first introduction to practical sustainability.
The swap market is another major attraction, offering attendees the chance to refresh their wardrobes without purchasing new items. Participants bring pre-loved clothing in good condition and exchange them for pieces brought by others.
This year’s festival has expanded it’s educational reach through formal partnerships with WAAPA and Fashion students from North Metropolitan TAFE, offering internships and hands-on experience in their chosen specialties.
For these students, the festival offers more than participation, it provides industry-aligned experience that can support their future careers.
Hands-on experience
Students will assist with event production, styling, workshop facilitation and backstage coordination.
WAAPA’s involvement also reflects a broader shift in performing arts education, with sustainability becoming an increasingly important consideration in costume design and production.
Co-founder Elsa Durward says the partnership is mutually beneficial.
“Students bring fresh ideas and energy, and we give them real-world experience in sustainable practice,” she says.
“It’s a chance for them to see how creativity and responsibility can work together.”
As Perth continues to develop its identity as a creative and environmentally conscious city, the Circular Fashion Festival stands out as a key event driving that momentum.
Perth Circular Fashion Festival has events running through to mid-November.
Siena Messer
Siena Messer is a journalism and broadcasting student at Edith Cowan University with a flare for arts, cultural and lifestyle journalism. With experience in high level commercial entertainment and communications she is passionate about connecting with people and telling meaningful, relatable stories for creative audiences.
