UK, EU and APAC designers among R/Elan CDC eco finalists at October's Lakmē Fashion Week
From Britain, Maximilian Raynor has been chosen as one of them. In fact, he's been named the UK winner of the R/Elan Circular Design Challenge 2025.
We're told Raynor was chosen for its expertise in experimental textiles, 'transforming waste from past collections into new fabrics'.
Representing India are Varshne B (CRCLE), Radhesh Agrahari (Golden Feathers), and Rishabh
Kumar (Farak). From the EU, there's Martina Boero (Cavia) alongside Jesica Pullo (BIOTICO), the finalist from the APAC & Beyond
This means they will all attend the upcoming edition of Lakmē Fashion Week in October, advancing to a grand finale, with a 'coming together on a global stage that celebrates and champions sustainable fashion design talent from around the world'.
The winner and runner-up will be presented with a seed fund of INR15L (£13,000) and INR5L (£4,300), respectively, a CDC trophy, and a six-month bespoke mentorship with Orsola De Castro and Estethica. Additionally, the winner will earn a place on the Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI show line-up for next March.
Organised by Reliance Industries -R/Elan in partnership with the United Nations of India and the fashion week, this year's award platform received over 190 applications from more than 10 countries.
Rakesh Bali, senior VP and head of marketing at Reliance Industries, said: 'This platform, born in India and now global in its reach, reflects our deep commitment at Reliance to nurturing a new generation of changemakers—designers and entrepreneurs who are not only creative but also conscious.
'Through the R/Elan Circular Design Challenge, we aim to foster innovation rooted in sustainability, waste reduction, and circularity. It's heartening to see such incredible talent from our country take up the mantle of building a greener fashion future.'
Jaspreet Chandok, group VP, Reliance Brands, added: 'It's exciting to witness how a platform born in India is now shaping conversations and actions in the global fashion ecosystem. We're proud to be championing this new wave of conscious creativity.'
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