British designer Maximilian Raynor has emerged as the UK Jury winner for the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC) 2025, India’s premier sustainability award for fashion innovation. The win was announced at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, with support from the British Council.
The CDC, initiated by Reliance Industries Limited’s R|Elan, in collaboration with the United Nations in India and Lakmé Fashion Week, empowers young fashion designers to champion circularity and sustainable design. The UK edition, held in partnership with the British Council, spotlighted Raynor’s label for its circular approach—blending deadstock luxury fabrics, local British wool, and vegan apple leather with waste-reducing techniques. Notably, 50% of the brand’s revenue comes from rentals and hires.
Mr. Rakesh Bali, Senior VP & Head of Marketing at Reliance Industries Ltd., congratulated Raynor, stating, “CDC reflects our vision to foster a new generation of conscious designers. The UK winner exemplifies innovation with responsibility.”
Raynor was selected by a jury comprising Akanksha Kamath, Chelsea Franklin, Muchaneta Ten Napel, and Serva Davis, based on criteria like material innovation, lifecycle impact, energy efficiency, and alignment with the UN SDGs.
Raynor will now compete against winners from EU, India, and APAC Jury Meets at the grand finale during Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in October 2025. The global winner will receive GBP 14,000 seed funding, the CDC trophy, and a six-month mentorship with Estethica’s Orsola De Castro, along with a standalone showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week in March 2026.
