South West models selected for Italian tour

A pair of local teenagers are jetting to Italy this month, after they were selected to join a group taking a unique fashion collection around the world.

Cape Naturaliste College student, Sarah Clarke and Josephine Winch-Buist from St Mary MacKillop College, joined Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA) last year, which set the world record for the longest catwalk over water on the Busselton Jetty ahead of a series of eco-conscious fashion events.

The girls were part of the Dene Selby Modelling Academy training program, which offered locals the chance to learn to walk the catwalk and participate in live fashion events.

EFWA Director Dr Zuhal Kuvan-Mills identified their potential and commitment, and asked them to join the team to participate in Perth shows and future photo shoots.

The thrilling news continued, when the girls and their families found out they were invited to join a group of designers, models, makeup artists, choreographers, directors and media personnel heading to Florence along with the ‘Closet of the Anthropocene’ collection.

“We were very impressed with Sarah and Josie ‘s strong commitment to sustainability and our cause, their hard work and dedication from training to delivery of event at the runway shows was extraordinary,” Kuvan-Mills said.

“We are delighted to have both girls with us.”

Josie said she was stunned with the advancement in her fledgling modelling career.

“It’s crazy when you think about it, a few months ago I was just hanging out in my bedroom, then all of a sudden I was on a runway with these amazing people and designers from all over the world,” she said.

“There are so many different ideas and people out there, you don’t normally realise it when you are my age.

“It’s just so cool to be going to Italy!”

Sarah echoed her elation and said she was looking forward to the adventure.

“I’m an 11 out of 10 excited to be invited, and super appreciative of my parents for supporting this opportunity.”

The Florence events will begin next week in a medieval castle, Antico Spedale del Bigallo in Bagno di Ripoli, and will include fashion runways, live mannequins, eco seminars, workshops and a range of other activities.

The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with Atelier Biologica, Italian fashion designer Debora Frosini, who committed to bringing the event to Europe after being introduced on a 2024 visit to Australia.

Designers including Green Embassy, Slyvia Calvo, Fabric of Nature and South West label, Desert to Ocean will also take part, sharing their wares on the tour to highlight issues surrounding fashion waste and climate change.