R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge Announces India Finalists for Global Finale
The R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (RCDC), presented by Reliance Industries Limited’s R|Elan™, the United Nations in India, and Lakmé Fashion Week, has completed its global jury rounds, unveiling the India finalists who will join an international cohort of innovators advancing circular fashion and textile solutions.
Following an extensive evaluation by the India jury, Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda, and Margn by Saurabh Maurya have been selected as the India finalists for the eighth edition of the challenge. Their innovations span bio-based sequins, textile upcycling, post-consumer waste transformation, and contemporary circular fashion rooted in craftsmanship.
The India jury featured a distinguished panel of experts, including Ainee Nizami Ahmedi, Editorial Director, ELLE India & ELLE Gourmet; Shaleena Nathani, Celebrity Stylist and Fashion Consultant; Karishma Shahani Khan, Creative Director, Ka-Sha; Rakesh Bali, Senior Vice President – PetChem, Reliance Industries Limited; and Darshana Gajare, Head of Sustainability, Lakmé Fashion Week.
Earlier this year, Yoshita 1967 by Anil Padia was selected as the Europe finalist in Paris, while RWRK Studio by Farouk Braimoh emerged as the United Kingdom finalist. Representing the Asia Pacific & Beyond region, BYO by Tommy Tedji secured its place in the global finale.
The eighth edition attracted more than 220 applications from around the world, with 23 semi-finalists shortlisted across India, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Asia Pacific & Beyond region. Following the regional jury rounds, seven global finalists have advanced to the Grand Jury, which will take place at the United Nations House in New Delhi.
The finalists will subsequently present their collections during the finale showcase at the Embassy of France in India as part of Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in October. The event forms part of the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, celebrating collaboration in innovation, sustainability, and creative excellence.
The Winner and Runner-Up of the eighth edition will be announced after the final showcase.
Expressing her excitement, Nitya Amarnath, Founder of Botto Labs, said:
“Becoming a finalist is surreal, and it’s still sinking in. I’m genuinely excited to get to know my fellow finalists and mentors, learn from their diverse experiences, explore ideas and be part of the CDC community that’s collectively reimagining the future of fashion.”
Saloni Jhaveri, Founder and Designer of Saloni Jhaveri, said:
“When I heard them announce ‘Saloni Jhaveri’, it felt like I was living the dream. The 13-year-old girl who dreamt of this moment, is elated and extremely humbled. And today, as a finalist, I feel one step closer towards fulfilling my purpose. I look forward to being a part of the community that is making a change. I am super excited to be working alongside the wonderful mentors, who I have always looked upto.”
Ustat Kharbanda, Founder of Duja, said:
“We’re incredibly grateful and excited to be selected as finalists. It’s a meaningful validation of the work we’re doing at DUJA and reinforces our belief that great design and circularity can go hand in hand. We’re looking forward to learning from this journey and taking our impact to the next level.”
Saurabh Maurya, Founder of Margn, added:
“I’m very excited to be selected as a finalist for CDC 2026. This is also really important and special for us because we started our circular journey one year back, and getting selected has also given us the opportunity to be mentored by people whom we have been looking up to for a very long time. We have also improvised our processes, learned business strategy, and understood how to make these circular practices a core part of our system and the design practice that we’ve been doing for the last five years.”
Commenting on the selection, Rakesh Bali, Senior Vice President – PetChem, Reliance Industries Limited, said:
“Heartfelt congratulations to Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri the founder of Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda and Margn by Saurabh Maurya on being selected as the India Finalists of the eighth edition of the R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge. This year’s Indian cohort was truly exceptional, the creativity, boldness of ideas and commitment to sustainable innovation on display reaffirm India’s growing leadership in circular fashion. At Reliance, we have always believed that lasting change begins with backing innovators willing to challenge convention. Through the R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge, we remain committed to nurturing this next generation of talent by providing mentorship, visibility and material innovation to help transform bold circular ideas into scalable business solutions. We look forward to seeing them represent India on the global stage.”
Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, said:
“Congratulations to Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri the founder of Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda and Margn by Saurabh Maurya on being selected as the India Finalists of the eighth edition of the R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge. Their work reflects the extraordinary calibre of entrepreneurs who are redefining fashion through innovation, craftsmanship and circular thinking. It is encouraging to witness emerging talent creating solutions that are not only creatively compelling but also commercially relevant. We are excited to see them progress to the Grand Jury and continue showcasing India’s growing leadership in circular fashion globally.”
Mr. Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, said:
“I congratulate Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri the founder of Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda and Margn by Saurabh Maurya on being named the India Finalists. This year’s cohort reflects the growing momentum of innovators demonstrating that sustainability, creativity and entrepreneurship can come together to address some of fashion’s most pressing challenges. By bringing together designers, industry leaders and institutions, the Challenge continues to foster collaboration that advances circular solutions and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. We look forward to seeing the finalists continue their inspiring journeys and help shape a more sustainable future for fashion.”
The completion of the global jury rounds further reinforces the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge’s role as a leading international platform supporting innovative, scalable, and sustainable fashion businesses while accelerating the transition towards a circular fashion ecosystem.
