During her stay at St John of God Mount Lawley Hospital, sustainable fashion designer Zuhal Kuvan-Mills noticed the scrubs worn by nurses and wondered what happened to them once they were no longer in use.
“I was speaking to the nurse on duty pre-surgery, and we talked about the amount of potential textile waste across many industries where staff wear uniforms,” said Zuhal.
Inspired by this exchange, Zuhal decided to take some end-of-life scrubs and upcycle them into a high fashion runway collection that was unveiled at Eco Fashion Week Australia 2024. Collaborating with other local design labels including Fabric of Nature and Deadly Denim, she debuted a new clothing line featuring beautifully unique dresses, skirts and tops. The collection was named Aqua in a nod to climate change and Australia’s water scarcity.
In addition to the environmental message, Zuhal saw an opportunity to support those in need. She learned about the St John of God Foundation’s Gift of Hope program, which helps Australians facing life-threatening conditions such as cancer. She chose to donate the proceeds from the sale of the upcycled garments to the program, which provides assistance to cancer patients experiencing financial hardship.
Eco Fashion Week Australia was founded by Zuhal in 2017, and in 2024 featured 58 shows across Perth and Busselton, including an unofficial world record attempt for the world’s longest catwalk on the Busselton Jetty.
Rachel Bruechle, Director of Community Engagement at St John of God Foundation, expressed her gratitude for Zuhal’s initiative.
“When creative, community-minded individuals like Zuhal dedicate their time and talents to helping others, they bring hope and support to those in need. On behalf of our patients and the wider community, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her inspiring commitment to sustainability and patient care.”