The Embassy of France in India and the French Institute in India, in partnership with Reliance Industries Limited, the United Nations in India and the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, have announced a special Indo-French edition of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC) to be held in 2026 as part of the India–France Year of Innovation.
Originally launched in India in collaboration with the United Nations in India and Lakmē Fashion Week, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has evolved into an international platform supporting young designers and entrepreneurs working at the intersection of fashion, sustainability and innovation. By promoting circular design practices across the fashion and textile value chain, the initiative fosters a new generation of creators committed to responsible and future-focused approaches.
The 2026 edition reflects a shared Indo-French ambition to strengthen collaboration in sustainable fashion and creative innovation. With France’s global influence in fashion and the increasing presence of Indian designers on the Paris Fashion Week calendar, the partnership underscores a mutual call to rethink design, production and consumption. Building on the exhibition “Textile Matters: Woven Stories Between India and France”, which concluded in Paris on 4 January, the initiative extends the cultural dialogue by offering an international platform for emerging talent.
As part of the collaboration, French designers specialising in sustainable and circular fashion will be identified, and a Regional European Jury will convene in Paris this summer in close association with the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, serving as institutional partner. A dedicated Indo-French jury comprising distinguished fashion industry professionals from France will also be formed.
The programme will culminate in the international finale and fashion showcase of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge during Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in Delhi in October 2026. The showcase will be hosted at the Embassy of France in India, reinforcing the role of cultural diplomacy in advancing sustainability-led innovation.
This collaboration highlights the importance of cultural and creative industries in addressing global sustainability challenges while strengthening long-term dialogue between French and Indian institutions in fashion and innovation.
