Reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and circularity in fashion, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), through its innovative fabric brand R|Elan™, in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) in India, presented the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC) 2024 winner—rkive city—at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI 2025. The winning collection, titled “Reclaim The City,” was showcased at The Atelier, Jio World Convention Centre, offering a bold vision for circular fashion.
The collection was a testament to the CDC’s mission of promoting sustainable, recyclable, and waste-reducing practices in the fashion ecosystem. With a meticulously curated 36-look runway presentation, rkive city redefined fashion by transforming post-consumer waste into compelling high-fashion narratives.
Revolutionizing Waste into Wearable Art
Every garment in the collection was crafted entirely from reclaimed textiles, including reconstructed denim workwear, repurposed leather, and discarded fabrics. The pieces were reimagined through neo-manufacturing techniques such as block printing, patchwork, and creative waste management. Even old office shirts, once discarded due to minor flaws, were revived with new patterns, textures, and dyes—celebrating the art of repair and the beauty of circularity.
“Reclaim The City” was more than just a fashion collection—it was an artistic representation of the evolving urban landscape, balancing the need for progress with the preservation of cultural identity. The collection featured elements like reconstructed sleeves inspired by uniforms and utility pockets reminiscent of market workers’ jackets, evoking themes of place, history, and memory.
A Commitment to Circular Fashion
L – R (Hemant D Sharma, Ritwik Khanna, Rakesh Bali & Radhika Batra)
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, President – Polyester, Reliance Industries Limited, stated:
“The R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to sustainability and circularity in fashion. It is inspiring to see young designers like rkive city utilize innovation to transform waste into remarkable fashion statements. At Reliance, we believe in creating scalable, circular solutions that reduce the industry’s environmental impact while shaping the future of design.”
Since its inception in 2018, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has emerged as India’s leading platform for sustainable fashion, fostering next-generation designers who are rethinking the traditional fashion value chain. Through mentorship, market access, and industry exposure, the initiative continues to drive impactful waste-reduction solutions aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and India’s Mission LiFE initiative.
L-R (Radhika Batra, Ritwik Khanna & Hemant D Sharma)
A Global Vision for Sustainable Fashion
With its expansion in 2023 to the UK, European Union, and Asia-Pacific, the Circular Design Challenge has solidified RIL’s vision of accelerating global change in the fashion industry. The 2025 winning collection by rkive city served as a powerful reminder of fashion’s ability to minimize its environmental footprint while delivering thought-provoking, design-led storytelling.
