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.

“At Reliance Industries, we are committed to pioneering sustainability. R|Elan Circular Design Challenge exemplifies our dedication to fostering innovation and circularity in the fashion industry. By identifying and supporting eco-conscious designers and incentivising scalable circular solutions, we are working towards a greener future. Our efforts to reduce waste and inculcate sustainability in fashion reflect our broader goal of creating a circular economy that benefits both the environment and society,” Hemant D Sharma, sector head – polyester, RIL, 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,” Shombi Sharp, UN resident coordinator, India, said.

The R|Elan Circular Design Challenge emphasises 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 company said in a press release.

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 Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI. The CDC winner will receive funding worth ₹15 lakh, CDC Trophy, and a six-month mentorship programme, along with a stand-alone showcase at Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2025. The runner-up will receive funding worth ₹5 lakh 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.

“Together with R|Elan and the United Nations in India, 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 forward-thinking excellence, inviting groundbreaking partnerships worldwide,” Jaspreet Chandok, group vice president, Reliance Brands that organises Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with Fashion Design Council of India, said.

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

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Circular Design Challenge for a second year, uniting with Reliance Industries and United Nations India, to support the next generation of designers, who are championing a more inclusive, responsible and regenerative industry. We hope that this platform will act as a catalyst for creativity - showcasing a diversity of sustainable practices from across different geographies, as well as facilitating knowledge exchange around alternative fashion systems,” said Hannah Robinson, Architecture Design & Fashion department, British Council.

“We are delighted to support the CDC and Reliance Industries in hosting the second APAC jury event. Our mission at Redress is to educate and empower designers and consumers alike to pave the way for a circular fashion industry. As Asia is the world’s largest producer and consumer of textiles and apparel, our work is strategically Asia-focused, and we’re honoured to participate in the Asia-Pacific semi-final of this important initiative that recognises our talented designers of the future,” Dr Christina Dean, founder and board chair of Redress, said.

“We are pleased to partner with CDC and Reliance Industries to host the second edition of the European selection chapter of the Circular Design Challenge. As one of the leading educational institutions focused on fashion, our mission is to train the new generation of designers for creating a culture of circularity and sustainable fashion and an eco-conscious mindset. Thanks to the past collaboration of one of our notable Alumni Fashion Designer, Rahul Mishra, with Reliance Brands, who supported him because of his strong commitment to sustainability, we are honoured to participate in this year's CDC edition with our emerging Alumni Designers that effectively represent this mindset,” Stefania Valenti, managing director, Istituto Marangoni, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)