Designer Anish Malpani's 'Without' label wins 2023 Circular Design Challenge award

Anish Malpani, the designer behind the 'Without' label

Anish Malpani, the designer behind the 'Without' label in India, emerged as the winner of the 5th Circular Design Challenge (CDC). This prestigious award acknowledges the creative efforts of fashion designers and entrepreneurs. The CDC is an initiative by R|Elan, the innovative fabric brand from Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), in collaboration with Lakmé Fashion Week and the United Nations in India.

The grand finale of this challenge took place at the UN House during Lakmé Fashion Week, in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). The runner-up of the competition was Felipe Fiallo from the European Union.

This year, CDC has expanded the competition's reach to include the United Kingdom, European Union, and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions, with the goal to provide a global platform for fashion design talent that integrates sustainability in both design and production, with a focus on waste reduction, pollution mitigation, and product recycling.

Reliance Industries' R|Elan has been at the forefront of the Circular Design Challenge for the past five years, pioneering efforts to promote sustainability within the global fashion industry.

Anish Malpani was granted funding worth Rs 15 lakhs, the prestigious CDC trophy, and a six-month mentorship program. Additionally, Malpani earned the opportunity for a standalone showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) scheduled for March 2024. The runner-up, Felipe Fiallo, received Rs 5 lakhs in funding. Both the winner and runner-up will benefit from mentorship provided by Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of Fashion Revolution and Creative Director of Estethica.

Since 2018, CDC champions have been chosen through an annual competition, with evaluations conducted by eminent people from the fashion industry and teams representing the United Nations in India. The jury for the final contest comprised Atul Bagai, Country Head of the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) India Office; Christine Goulay, Founder of Sustainabelle Advisory Services and Ex-Head of Sustainable Innovation at the Kering group; Aditi Mayer, Sustainability Activist & Photojournalist, and Rahul Mishra, Fashion Designer.

While addressing the audience and discussing the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) principles introduced by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, Meenakshi Lekhi said, “Each one has a responsibility, and each one has to participate, and each one needs to practice, and not just preach, be part of Mission Life. The intention is to increase positivity and work towards finding solutions because that’s the very Indian way, of finding solutions, taking the middle path between the two extremes.”

Hemant D Sharma, Sector Head – Polyester at Reliance Industries Limited, said, “CDC is one of the most remarkable initiatives to promote circularity in material usage by Reliance Industries. The CDC has nurtured, mentored, and promoted environmental champions leading circular and innovative collections using sustainable and recycled materials. The Challenge has established itself as the largest sustainable fashion award in India. The initiative has played a crucial role in promoting circularity and sustainability in the Indian fashion industry, and after four editions in India, we have now gone international to promote sustainability and circular economy adoption globally.”

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, said, “The world is facing a triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. The Circular Design Challenge (CDC) demonstrates that fashion can be a powerful driver for responsible production and consumption, weaving together style and sustainability. It also resonates with the global Lifestyles for Environment (LiFE) movement, recently endorsed by the G20, and the increasing urgency of environmentally conscious lifestyles and consumer choices. The CDC and LiFE are important threads in the UN partnership tapestry, and we are thrilled that the CDC is bringing its message to the global catwalk for the first time. This reflects the centrality of India as a leader in both sustainable culture and climate action. Where India, and its fashion industry goes, the world will increasingly follow.”

Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President at Reliance Brands, which organizes Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with Fashion Design Council of India, said, “After witnessing the growing participation and appreciation for CDC over the last five years, taking CDC to the global stage aligns perfectly with our vision of promoting sustainable fashion worldwide. Together with R|Elan™ and the United Nations in India, we have elevated the Circular Design Challenge to become the biggest sustainability platform within the country. As we move forward, our focus is on making this platform an even greater success on an international scale, alongside our global partners, and welcoming creative minds from around the world to join us in our mission to promote sustainable fashion.”

Cristina Cancer, Istituto Marangoni Head of Alumni, Career Service & Industry Relationship, added on Felipe Fiallo being the runner-up, “As one of the leading educational institutions focused on Fashion, our mission is to train the new generation of Designers creating a culture of circularity and sustainable fashion and an eco-conscious mindset. We are really proud of our Alumnus Felipe Fiallo because of his strong commitment to sustainability recycling, and we are honored that he was recognized as the runner-up of this edition of the CDC because with his work and the innovative approach, he perfectly represents the values and vision of this new eco-conscious culture."

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