From Florence to Fremantle: Monica’s Hemp Design Takes Another Step Forward

A little while back, we shared the story of WA student designer Monica Tovar Plazas, who created a stunning piece using our hemp fabric for the EFWA Fashion Art Exhibition in Florence, Italy.

Now we’ve got a beautiful update to share.

Monica recently wrote in with exciting news: she presented her end-of-year collection at TAFE, featuring the same hemp-fabric dress, and the piece was also showcased in the Fremantle Markets Spring Runway last month. Seeing hemp textiles on real bodies, in real shows, in real creative work… that’s the kind of momentum we love.

If you missed the original feature, you can catch up here: Previous article

A big moment at TAFE (and a dress that’s already travelled the world)

Monica’s end-of-year presentation wasn’t just a “final assignment”. It was a full collection showing her design direction loud and clear: natural fibres, timeless silhouettes, and sustainability without compromise.

The hemp dress she made using our fabric has already been part of an international exhibition in Florence, and now it’s been brought home and celebrated on local ground too.

For us, it’s a reminder that hemp isn’t only practical. It’s expressive. It can be sculptural, elegant, soft, structured, bold, minimal, and everything in between.

Fremantle Markets Spring Runway: hemp on the catwalk

The Fremantle Markets runway feature is a special one, because it’s where slow fashion meets community. Monica’s dress was shown in front of a live crowd, styled and worn as it’s meant to be: not as a concept, but as a piece with a future.

When hemp makes it onto a runway, it helps shift the story. It tells people: this is a premium fibre. This is fashion. This is worth building a wardrobe around.

Natural fibres + modular fashion: the direction we want to see more of

Monica shared that her collection was built around natural fibres and sustainable modular fashion, with the goal of reducing environmental impact while still delivering high-quality design and timeless pieces.

If you’re not familiar with modular fashion, it’s the idea of designing garments that can adapt and reconfigure, for example:

• adjustable or multi-wear silhouettes
• pieces that layer and swap across outfits
• elements that can be repaired, altered, or updated instead of replaced
• wardrobes built around fewer garments worn more ways

It’s one of the most practical answers to fast fashion, because it encourages what actually makes a difference: wearing clothes longer, and buying less often.

Why hemp textiles make sense for designers

We’re biased, but hemp really is a dream fibre for designers who care about longevity and performance:

• Strong and hard-wearing, so garments can last
• Breathable, especially for Australian conditions
• Beautiful structure, whether you want drape or shape
• Comfort that improves over time, as many hemp fabrics soften with wear

When hemp is treated as a premium material, not a novelty, the results can be incredible.

Monica’s note to us (and why it matters)

Monica told us she’s been “entirely focused on natural fibres and sustainable modular fashion”, and that she’s planning to launch her brand next year.

She also shared how grateful she was for the soft, beautiful textiles we provided, and how important they were in helping bring her designs to life.

That kind of feedback means the world, because it’s exactly why we do what we do: supporting people who want to make better things, with better materials.

Monica, if you’re reading this, we’re cheering you on. Huge congratulations on the TAFE presentation and the Fremantle runway feature.