R|Elan™ and UN India Unite for the Circular Design Challenge: Innovating Fashion Sustainability

Since its inception in 2018, the R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge (CDC) has become a leading platform for emerging talent in sustainable fashion to showcase their circular innovations globally. This year, CDC’s worldwide edition spans the Asia-Pacific, European Union, and United Kingdom regions, culminating at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, this October, in New Delhi, India. Presented by R|Elan™, the next gen fabric brand of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), in collaboration with the United Nations in India, CDC is committed to promoting a greener and more sustainable future by fostering eco-conscious creativity that addressesthe pressing issue of waste and the carbon footprint of the fashion industry.

Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, Sector Head – Polyester, RIL said: “At Reliance Industries, we are committed to pioneering sustainability. R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge exemplifies our dedication to fostering innovation and circularity in the fashion industry. By identifying and supporting eco-conscious designers and incentivizing scalable circular solutions, we are working towards a greener future. Our effortsto reduce waste and inculcate sustainability in fashion reflect our broader goal of creating a circular economy that benefits both the environment and society”.

Mr Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India said, “Responding to the UN Secretary-General’s urgent call to ‘make peace with nature’, the UN in India is a proud partner of the CDC. For its second edition, CDC is once again joining hands with our partners in the various regions spotlighting designers and entrepreneurs, who practice circularity and sustainability in the fashion and textile industries. Together, we are helping drive innovations in energy efficiency, closed-loop systems, and the use of ethically produced materials, ensuring that the social and environmental impacts align with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

Mr. Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands that organizes Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with Fashion Design Council of India said, “Together with R|Elan™ and the United Nations in India, we have made Circular Design Challenge India’s largest global award for sustainability and circular fashion. CDC pushes the needle on climate action by discovering and mentoring circular fashion designers and innovators, helping them scale and empowering them to drive real impact. We envision transforming this platform into a global beacon of forwardthinking excellence, inviting groundbreaking partnerships worldwide.”

Circular Design Challenge has been pivotal in driving India’s fashion industry towards eco-consciousness and aims to provide a global platform for sustainable fashion and design talent to find scalable waste-reduction solutions. CDC originated in India six years ago with a mission to nurture emerging talent in the fashion industry. Last year marked its first global edition, expanding its reach and impact.

This year, the international jury rounds successfully kick-started in Milan and the final meet concluded in Mumbai, India. Each of the jury sessions featured strong pitches from exceptional designers in front of an esteemed panel, who made the selections. The winning designers, who will be the finalists presenting at the upcoming edition of CDC are Wenyan Xu of Saltless for EU, Tsang Fan Yu for the APAC region, Silvia Acién of ACIEN for UK and Gautam Malik of Jaggery, Ritwik Khanna of RKive City and Chandini Batra of A Blunt Story from India.

The R|Elan™Circular Design Challenge emphasizes critical sustainability parameters for evaluation, including biodegradability, durability, and multifunctionality of products. To make sure that the social and environmental factors are in line with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, the jury evaluates elements like energy efficiency, closed-loop systems, and the use of ethically produced materials.

The finalists from APAC, UK and EU will be flown to New Delhi, India in October, where together with the India finalists, they will pitch their work to an esteemed jury at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI. The CDC winner will receive funding worth INR 15 Lakhs, CDC Trophy, and a six-month mentorship program, along with a stand-alone showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2025. The runner-up will receive funding worth INR 5 Lakhs and mentorship.

The winner and runner-up will be mentored by Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of Fashion Revolution & Creative Director of Estethica; and this influential partnership will provide invaluable guidance to the designers.

CDC partners across borders include British Council for the UK, Redress for Hong Kong / Asia Pacific, and Istituto Marangoni for the European Union.

For the past few years, the CDC has identified and supported exceptional innovators who integrate fashion with environmentally friendly advancements. Notable winners include Without by Anish Malpani – recycling multi-layer packaging to make eyewear, I Was A Sari, which upcycles discarded saris to empower women artisans, and Bandit, which masters upcycling diverse materials into trendy eco-conscious products. Moreover, the platform has supported over 25 alumni through workshops and networking, gradually transforming the fashion ecosystem towards sustainability.