Circular Design Challenge, an award recognizing fashion design entrepreneurs, goes global

Circular Design Challenge 2022 winner Pratyush Kumar at Lakme Fashion Week held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai

The Circular Design Challenge (CDC), an award recognizing fashion designers and entrepreneurs, initiated by R|Elan in collaboration with Lakmé Fashion Week and the United Nations in India, revealed its global expansion plans on September 18, which will culminate during the upcoming Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI season.

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), a non-profit organization, is the leading authority for fashion design in India, while R|ElanTM represents the innovative fabric brand under Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).

In the current year, CDC has set its sights on expanding the competition to encompass the UK, EU, and APAC regions, and it has extended invitations to designers from all across the globe.

RIL for the past five years has been at the forefront of the Circular Design Challenge, pioneering efforts to promote sustainability within the global fashion industry.

Hemant D Sharma, Sector Head – Polyester, Reliance Industries Limited, said the CDC has fostered, guided, and championed individuals dedicated to environmental causes, who are at the forefront of creating circular and inventive fashion collections using sustainable and recycled materials. This competition has firmly positioned itself as India's premier sustainable fashion accolade.

He also said, “CDC is one of the most remarkable concepts adopted by Reliance Industries. The initiative has played a crucial role in promoting circularity and sustainability in the Indian fashion industry, and after four editions in India, we are now going international to promote sustainability, and circular economy adoption globally.”

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India, said, “The UN in India is proud to be a founding partner of the Circular Design Challenge since its beginning five years ago. The UN and CDC are united in our belief that fashion can and must be both a source of joy, celebrating culture, human expression, and innovation, and a force for greening our world. Weaving together so many different threads of society and the economy, a more sustainable fashion industry can help drive the achievement of the global SDGs across a rich fabric of value chains and social connections. We look forward to unlocking circular solutions on a global scale with CDC.”

Pei-Wen Jin, representing Taiwan, emerged as a finalist from the APAC region. Meanwhile, in the India edition, 'Studio Medium' by Riddhi Jain & Dhruv Satija, 'Banofi' + 'Studio Beej' (Consortium) by Jinali Mody & Arundhati Kumar, and 'Without' by Anish Malpani were unveiled as the three finalists.

In the UK, Amesh Wijesekera, a Sri Lankan designer based in London, secured a spot in the finals, and Felipe Fiallo was the finalist from the EU jury evaluation.

All finalists from the APAC, UK, and EU juries will convene in New Delhi, India, in October. There, alongside the India finalists, they will present their work to a distinguished panel of judges at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI. The CDC winner will receive funding worth Rs 15 lakh, the CDC Trophy, and a six-month mentorship program, along with a dedicated showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2024. The runner-up will receive funding worth Rs 5 lakh and mentorship.

Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of Fashion Revolution and Creative Director of Estethica, will extend her mentorship to both the winner and runner-up, offering invaluable guidance through this influential partnership.

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