Volunteering at Eco Fashion Weekend 2025
- Tan Jing Xuan
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
This April, I had the incredible honour of volunteering at Eco Fashion Weekend 2025 in Singapore — a three-day celebration of sustainability, creativity, and community in fashion. Hosted by my former college lecturer, Ms. Anisa, the event is now in its second year and took place from 25 to 27 April. The fashion awards and showcase on 26 April were held at the serene and scenic Ida’s Bar, a venue nestled in greenery and away from the city's hustle — the perfect setting for this year’s theme: “Safe Space, Safe Place.”
The theme invited everyone to take a moment to pause, reconnect, and reflect on what truly matters. It resonated deeply with the heart of the event, which featured a range of slow fashion brands that encouraged us to become more mindful consumers — showing that conscious choices can also be joyful, expressive, and empowering.
As a volunteer for the fashion showcase and awards, I was entrusted with designing posters and providing backstage support. Together with my fellow volunteer, Sherina, we managed the presentation decks and worked closely with the MCs, Anna Shatilova and Jacqui Hocking, who were both cheerful, eloquent, bringing vibrant energy to the show.
One of the highlights for me was witnessing the magic that happens behind the curtain — seeing makeup artists and hairstylists prepare the models, and watching the models rehearse with professionalism and poise. Being part of such a collaborative, creative process made the whole experience even more inspiring.
This year’s fashion show featured an exciting mix of local ethical brands, along with the debut of an international label from Thailand, @Concur.patchwork. The energy brought by the collections was truly infectious, each offering a unique perspective on sustainability and style.
One of my favourite looks came from @OliveAnkara, with its bold colours and African-inspired prints. It reminded me that fashion can be a powerful medium for self-expression, identity, and cultural pride. The music chosen for each runway also matched the mood and storytelling beautifully — adding even more soul to the show.
The weekend also featured a meaningful fashion awards segment, established to celebrate and uplift individuals and platforms driving change in sustainable fashion. Even if a nominee didn’t walk away with an award, I believe they would still feel encouraged and supported, knowing that the community recognized and valued their efforts — through votes, cheers, and heartfelt appreciation that keep them going.
Award categories included:
Sustainable Brand of the Year
Sustainable Fashion Multi-Label Retailer of the Year
Sustainable Fashion Creative Direction Excellence
Ethical Content Creator of the Year
Sustainability-Focused Media Platform of the Year
Sustainable Fashion Advocate
Community Empowerment Through Fashion
Innovative Sustainable Fashion Alternatives
One standout moment was seeing @jianyang1979, also known as Mr. Barbie, present 15 unique Barbie doll outfits made entirely from scraps, cutoffs, and samples collected from 7 sustainable fashion brands. His creativity and ability to repurpose waste into beautiful miniature couture left a strong impression on me. There were also thoughtful sustainable touches throughout the event — the VIP name tags were written on dry leaves, and the awards were made from wood, avoiding plastic completely. These small details truly reflect the heart of the event.
For the occasion, I wore the Stevie Waistcoat navy set from @akinndesign’s Kind Earth Collection — a local sustainable fashion brand that sadly closed in 2024. Wearing their design reminded me of the importance of supporting independent labels, and made me even more grateful to see Ms. Anisa continuing to create space for brands like Akinn through Eco Fashion Weekend — a platform for visibility, connection, and sustainability.
This event was a powerful reminder that fashion does not need to compromise on sustainablility. These brands prove that it is possible to lead with craftsmanship, creativity, ethical values, and community-building. I am deeply grateful to have been part of this meaningful initiative and to connect with like-minded activists, fashion lovers, eco-entrepreneurs, and industry professionals. Eco Fashion Weekend is not just a fashion event — it is a movement toward a more conscious, inclusive, and sustainable future for fashion in Southeast Asia and beyond.
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