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From mentorship to innovation, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge in partnership with the UN in India, showcases how creativity and science can redefine sustainability for the next generation of designers at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI
New Delhi: The R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (RCDC), India’s largest sustainability award for fashion, returned this season at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI. A joint initiative by Reliance Industries Limited and the United Nations in India, the program has been at the forefront of advancing circular design and material innovation since its inception, transforming the way fashion approaches sustainability and systems thinking.
Powered by R|Elan™—the next-generation fabric brand from Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)—the Challenge reflects Reliance’s deep commitment to driving circular economy solutions across textiles and apparel, aligning closely with the company’s long-term vision of achieving net carbon neutrality by 2044. Through RCDC, RIL translates these values into tangible impact—nurturing new-age designers who integrate responsible design, material innovation, and regenerative thinking into viable, future-ready business models.
Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, President – Polyester Business, Reliance Industries Limited, said, “India is uniquely positioned to lead the global dialogue on circular fashion, and the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge is a powerful manifestation of this leadership. By uniting the creativity of a global design community with the science of material innovation, we are not just redefining sustainability for the next generation; we are building a tangible pathway for the industry’s future. This initiative is proving that responsible design and viable business models can, and must, go together.”
A Truly Global Cohort of Finalists
The RCDC 2025 edition proudly announced its global cohort of finalists, following an intensive round of regional jury meets held across India, the UK, EU, and APAC & Beyond.
Representing India are Varshne B (CRCLE), Radhesh Agrahari and Muskaan Sainik (Golden Feathers), and Rishabh Kumar (Farak). From the UK, Italy & Argentina, the finalists are Maximilian Raynor and Martina Boero (Cavia), while Jesica Pullo (BIOTICO). This season saw over 160 applications from 10 countries, reflecting CDC’s expanding reputation as a global accelerator for circular fashion innovation. Designers showcased ideas that combined material science, design intelligence, and social purpose—demonstrating how creative entrepreneurship can drive climate-positive transformation.
The Grand Jury 2025
- Kimi Dangor – Fashion journalist, editor, and consultant
- Kulsum Shadab Wahab – Philanthropist & Founder, Ara Lumiere
- Orsola De Castro – Co-Founder & Creative Director, Estethica; Co-Founder, Fashion Revolution
- Payal Jain – Fashion Designer, Textile Artist & Sustainability Crusader
- Serge Carreira – Director, Emerging Brands Initiative, Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode
- Shombi Sharp – United Nations Resident Coordinator in India
The final jury convened on the 8th October 2025 at the United Nations House in New Delhi, followed by the showcase of winners on 10 October at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI.
The winner Crcle and the runner-up Golden Feathers of the R|Elan TM Circular Design Challenge (CDC) were bestowed with a seed fund of INR 15L & INR 5L respectively, the CDC Trophy, and a 6-month bespoke mentorship with Orsola De Castro and the team at Estethica. Additionally, the winner earned the spotlight with a standalone showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2026. The R|Elan TM Circular Design Challenge‘s global reach is a milestone and a remarkable step towards a more sustainable and circular fashion narrative.
Mentorship as a Catalyst for Circular Thinking
Ahead of the finale, the finalists participated in a three-month mentorship program led by experts such as Karishma Shahani Khan, Pranav Khanna, UNEP and Tamseel Hussain. These sessions deepened the designers’ understanding of circular systems, storytelling, and business strategy, helping them translate purpose into practice and prepare for scale.
Partners in Purpose
The initiative is anchored in two pivotal partnerships: R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge x United Nations in India — advancing Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through design-led innovation.
R|Elan™, spearheading Reliance Industries Limited’s mission to mainstream sustainable materials, reinforces its ambition to achieve zero environmental damage by 2044 through innovation, recycling, and closed-loop manufacturing.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations in India, Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, said, “This is the future of fashion where innovation meets creativity and churns out designs with circularity at the core. United Nations has partnered with R|Elan™ since 2018 and I am excited to witness how designers are taking on the environmental challenge.”
Adding to this, Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, said, “At Reliance Brands, we are proud to see the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge evolve into a truly global movement. What began as an idea to spotlight sustainability in fashion has now grown into a platform that brings together innovators, designers, and changemakers from across the world. Each season reaffirms our belief that India can lead the global dialogue on circularity, setting benchmarks and building bridges for the industry. We thank the United Nations in India for their consistent support in the common commitment to continue nurturing talent, scaling ideas, and positioning sustainability not as a niche, but as the future of fashion.”
India’s Role in Fashion’s Circular Future
The R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge 2025 embodies the collective strength of industry, innovation, and international collaboration. With its jury hosted at the United Nations House and its grand showcase on India’s premier fashion platform, Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI, the Challenge stands as a testament to how creativity, science, and systems thinking can redefine the business of fashion.
By uniting global talent and India’s sustainability leadership, CDC continues to build an ecosystem that turns circular design from an idea into an industry.
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