The image of a climate activist is often etched in raised placards and megaphones. Seri Mizani, however, initiated a different kind of revolution—a gentler one that welcomes rather than rebukes, aiming to inspire through joy rather than intimidation. “Being a part of the environmental movement doesn’t always have to be intense; it can be light, fun, and still be impactful.” With an affable personality, the 27-year-old runs Seribume, a river cleanup movement, and her textile label Pari-pari Mentari.
Despite having a mother who is a researcher in air pollution, the slow fashion advocate’s journey did not start young. It was a helpful offer to clean a friend’s newly rented studio—a space buried under mountains of discarded clothes—that cemented the former shopaholic’s commitment to conscious consumption. “It was, in hindsight, climate anxiety,” she reflected. “I cannot act like I did not see what I saw.” The challenge then lies in navigating her platform from fashion styling to a purpose-driven voice. “You are expected to go grand when approaching a cause on social media. My lifestyle, like having meat on my plate, is enough to invite questions about my advocacy,” the activist shared, still in much disbelief.
This refusal to look away soon flowed into action. Driven by intuition after the tragic Klang River flood in 2021, Seri came across an overlooked area in its devastated state. This sparked a call to action on her social media, rallying a community of hundreds for a volunteer cleanup. This was the birth of Seribume, a name meaning “a thousand of me”. What began as a solitary effort blossomed into a movement, proving her undeniable charisma in building community as naturally as a river finds the sea. These communal cleanups remind her of gotong-royong sekolah (a schoolwide activity gathering everyone’s help to clean), but she quickly realised that the cause needed to grow beyond everyone’s comfort zone. Tapping strategic partnerships to bridge communities with capable waste management systems became a goal she worked towards.
PARI PARI MENTARI, Scrunchie
This same oomph follows as she established her textile label, Pari-pari Mentari—if Seribume was the rooted tree, then Pari-pari Mentari is its spring bloom. Here, the maker dons her craftsperson’s hat, transforming leftover sarongs and locally sourced laces into scrunchies named “Bunga,” inspired by the never-ending cycle of a plant’s life. The venture is a playground of exploration, with batik as a medium that encapsulates her identity and deep appreciation for craftsmanship. This textile adventure then extended to “Spellbinding Stitches”, a collaborative project with her friend who knits and crochets. “It’s like collecting spells,” the creator laughed, her silver bangles clinking as her hands illustrated the joy of learning new skills. She hopes to pass on this magic—a gentle rebellion in a world of haste—to show how “feasible and therapeutic” slow crafting can be.
Again, magic alone cannot sustain impact; real advocacy must navigate the realities of business. The entrepreneur, who once sewed for days to meet demand, is learning to grow without becoming a slave to her own passion. Conversations with academic peers working on climate change, too, initially stirred doubt, making her creative efforts feel frivolous in comparison. “They reassured me to embrace my approach as this is my cause,” she said. “It is my way of addressing this matter, and I feel rewarded by making textile work instead of churning data to advocate for slow fashion.”
For this bright young thing, the phrase signifies a movement that is “slower, steadier and gentler.” It is an organic process, honouring each individual’s pace, much like the sustainable fashion she champions. This approach, coupled with an irrepressible optimism, is her true power to influence. Some have called her out for seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses. “Why not?” she asked. “This is the part of me that I love the most.”
A guardian of rivers, a weaver of spells, a friend to all, and a daughter to Mother Nature, Seri Mizani is the living epitome of a revolution that begins not with a shout, but with a warm smile and an unfaltering belief. In a world of damage, we can only begin, stitch by intentional stitch, to mend it.
Photography: Sarah Hobbs
Styling & Creative Direction: Joseph Cheng
Art Direction: Nadia Aswardy
Hair: VV Chan, Zac Lee, Philex Chin, Cody Chua
Makeup: Eranthe Loo, Crystal Fong (Plika Makeup)
Styling Assistants: Sarah Chong, Lorraine Chai, Maryssa Helmi
Photography Assistants: Ayiesha Almas, Brandan Simon
READ MORE