R|Elan Circular Design Challenge held during LFW X FDCI in Mumbai

24 October 2025, Mumbai 

India’s premier sustainability award for fashion, the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge (RCDC) was held this season at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in Mumbai, celebrating innovation and circularity on a global stage. A joint initiative between Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and the United Nations in India, the event cemented its role as a pioneering force in advancing sustainable design and material innovation.

The Challenge is powered by R|Elan, RIL’s next-generation fabric brand, and aligns with the company’s long-term vision to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2044 by driving circular economy solutions across the textile and apparel sector.

The 2025 edition of RCDC received over 160 applications from 10 countries. Finalists represented diverse nations, including India such as Varshne B of Circle, Radhesh Agrahari and Muskaan Sainik of Golden Feathers, and Rishabh Kumar of Farak. It also featured international designers from the UK, Italy, and Argentina.

Varshne B emerged as the winner, securing the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge Trophy, a seed fund of Rs 15 lakh and a six-month, bespoke mentorship with Orsola De Castro and her team at Estethica. The winner will also receive a standalone showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2026.

Golden Feathers was named the runner-up, receiving Rs 5 lakh and mentorship support.

Leaders from both RIL and the United Nations emphasized the pivotal role of the challenge in setting a new standard for the industry.

Hemant D Sharma, President - Polyester Business, RIL, stated, through the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge, the company redefines sustainability for the next generation, creating a tangible pathway for the industry’s future.”

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, United Nations in India, echoed this sentiment, saying the future of fashion where innovation meets creativity and churns out designs with circularity at the core.

The Grand Jury for 2025, which evaluated the finalists based on creativity, innovation, and sustainability impact, included an eminent panel featuring Orsola De Castro, Shombi Sharp, Payal Jain, and Serge Carreira.

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