National, 23rd July 2024: The R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge (CDC), which was established in 2018, has grown to be a preeminent forum for up-and-coming designers to present their circular ideas to a global audience. The Asia-Pacific, European Union, and United Kingdom areas are included in this year’s CDC global edition, which will culminate in October in New Delhi, India, at Lakmī Fashion Week, organized in collaboration with FDCI. Presented by R|ElanTM, Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) next-generation fabric brand, in association with the United Nations in India, CDC is dedicated to encouraging environmentally conscious creativity that tackles the urgent problems of waste and the fashion industry’s carbon footprint.
The Circular Design Challenge, which aims to provide sustainable fashion and design talent a global platform to identify scalable waste-reduction solutions, has played a key role in pushing India’s fashion sector towards eco-consciousness. Six years ago, CDC was founded in India with the goal of developing up-and-coming talent in the fashion sector. Its first worldwide edition was held last year, broadening its appeal and influence.
The international jury rounds were successfully launched this year in Milan, and the Mumbai, India, final meet was concluded. Great pitches from outstanding designers were presented to a distinguished panel during each jury session, and the panel members made the final decisions. The winning designers, who will be the finalists presenting at the next edition of CDC, are Gautam Malik of Jaggery, Ritwik Khanna of RKive City, Chandini Batra of A Blunt Story from India, Wendy Xu of Saltless for the EU, Tsang Fan Yu for the APAC area, and Silva Acién of ACIEN for the UK.
Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, Sector Head – Polyester, RIL said: We at Reliance Industries are dedicated to leading the way in sustainability.The R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge is a prime example of our commitment to encouraging creativity and circularity in the fashion sector. We are striving for a more environmentally friendly future by finding and assisting eco-aware designers and providing incentives for scalable circular solutions. Our larger objective of establishing a circular economy that benefits society and the environment is reflected in our initiatives to decrease waste and promote sustainability in the fashion industry.
Mr Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India said,In response to the pressing appeal of the UN Secretary-General to “make peace with nature,” the UN in India is honored to be associated with the CDC. In celebration of its second edition, CDC is collaborating with partners around the country to highlight designers and entrepreneurs that apply circularity and sustainability to the fashion and textile sectors. In order to ensure that the social and environmental effects are in line with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, we are working together to promote advances in energy efficiency, closed-loop systems, and the use of ethically produced materials.
The R|ElanTMCircular Design Challenge places a strong emphasis on important sustainability evaluation criteria, such as product durability, biodegradability, and multifunctionality. The jury assesses components such as energy efficiency, closed-loop systems, and the use of ethically produced materials to ensure that the social and environmental considerations align with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
In October, the APAC, UK, and EU finalists will travel to New Delhi, India, where they will present their work to a distinguished jury at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI alongside the Indian finalists. The CDC winner will have a stand-alone exhibition at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2025, funding of INR 15 Lakhs, a CDC Trophy, and a six-month mentorship program. The runner-up will get mentorship along with funds totaling INR 5 lakhs.
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 forward-thinking excellence, inviting groundbreaking partnerships worldwide.”
“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.
