Support Emi’s work by making a donation 

Emily (Emi) Rastas is a Finnish-Australian artist, designer, and sustainability advocate based in Geelong. Her practice blends wearable art, clothing repair, painting, and installation – all rooted in joy, accessibility, and environmental care. Through her brand Emipeli Design, she champions slow fashion, upcycling, and creative re-use, using colour and play to spark connection and conversation.

In addition to her art and design work, Emi is a passionate repair educator. She creates free tutorials that teach people how to mend and reimagine their clothes, helping to make sustainable fashion feel empowering and achievable for everyone.

Support Our Uganda Project
This July, I’ll be travelling to Uganda to work with Yimba Uganda, a youth-led charity that empowers young women through tailoring, fashion, and design education. For two weeks, I’ll be teaching sustainable fashion practices, focusing on textile upcycling, creative repair, and low-waste making. The goal is to share practical skills that can generate income, build confidence, and offer new ways to work with what’s already available.

I’ll be joined by filmmaker Craig Reasons, and together we’ll document the project, highlighting the incredible talent of the students and the possibilities of circular design in a global context. The second week will focus on collaboration, co-creating wearable pieces and installations that respond to Uganda’s growing textile waste problem in joyful, innovative ways.

Your donation helps make this possible.
Funds raised will directly support:

  • Materials and supplies for the students to use during workshops

  • Tools and equipment needed for hands-on upcycling and repair

  • Transport, accommodation, and local support during our stay

  • Production costs for the short film and documentation

  • A donation to Yimba Uganda to continue their work after we leave

This project is rooted in creativity, community, and resourcefulness. With your help, we can share knowledge, amplify local voices, and support a more sustainable and equitable fashion future.

Thank you for being part of it.

3% Cover the Fee