R|Elan Circular Design Challenge (RCDC) 2025 – India’s Premier Sustainability Award – Announces Finalists from the UK, EU, APAC, and India
Organized by Reliance Industries Limited’s R|Elan™, in collaboration with the United Nations in India and Lakmē Fashion Week
The R|Elan Circular Design Challenge (RCDC) 2025 proudly revealed its global lineup of finalists after a rigorous round of regional jury evaluations held across India, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and APAC & Beyond. Representing India are Varshne B (CRCLE), Radhesh Agrahari (Golden Feathers), and Rishabh Kumar (Farak). From the UK and EU, Maximilian Raynor and Martina Boero (Cavia) were selected, while Jesica Pullo (BIOTICO) emerged as the finalist from APAC & Beyond.
This year’s edition received more than 190 applications from over 10 countries, comprising both organic entries and nominations. Key global partners—such as the British Council, Redress, Fondazione Sozzani, Fashion Revolution, and Estethica—were instrumental in discovering and nurturing emerging talent. This underscores the rapidly expanding international influence of the Circular Design Challenge.
Launched in India, the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge has evolved into a significant global platform, championing innovation in circular fashion. Focused on sustainability, it empowers young designers and entrepreneurs to reimagine fashion’s future with solutions rooted in environmental consciousness.
By offering mentorship, strategic exposure, and access to influential industry platforms, RCDC supports promising talent in scaling innovative ideas and driving a transition toward circular economy practices. This initiative exemplifies how collaboration between global institutions, fashion ecosystems, and corporate leaders like Reliance can foster systemic impact.
The Challenge is presented by R|Elan™, Reliance Industries Limited’s next-gen fabric brand, in partnership with the United Nations in India and Lakmē Fashion Week, with a core mission to reduce waste and catalyze a greener, responsible fashion future.
UK Shortlist Winner: Maximilian Raynor
The UK jury meet, hosted at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London and supported by the British Council, named Maximilian Raynor as its finalist. Raynor’s practice is rooted in experimental textiles, repurposing waste from previous collections into new material forms. His creations feature deadstock luxury fabrics, British wool remnants, and vegan apple leather. The brand minimizes waste through careful cutting techniques and derives nearly 50% of its revenue from garment rentals.
EU Shortlist Winner: Martina Boero
Martina Boero, founder of Italian brand Cavia, was selected at the EU Jury Meet held in Milan in collaboration with Fondazione Sozzani. Cavia reinvents vintage, recycled, and deadstock fabrics into contemporary fashion. Blending traditional Italian craftsmanship with circular principles, each garment embraces the distinctiveness of reused materials.
APAC & Beyond Shortlist Winner: Jesica Pullo
Jesica Pullo, founder of Argentine-Italian label BIOTICO, emerged as the winner of the APAC & Beyond Jury Meet. BIOTICO applies low-tech upcycling methods to convert post-consumer plastic and industrial waste into handcrafted couture. The brand eschews virgin materials and high-energy processes, while also fostering inclusivity by partnering with institutions that support individuals with intellectual disabilities.
India Finalists: Varshne B, Radhesh Agrahari, Rishabh Kumar
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Varshne B (CRCLE): CRCLE is a sustainability-driven fashion and lifestyle brand with a circular philosophy. It incorporates durable, versatile designs using materials such as Weganool, banana leather, stainless steel offcuts, and repurposed fabrics. The brand reuses tags and trims, following a regenerative design approach that prioritizes minimal waste and environmental consciousness.
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Radhesh Agrahari (Golden Feathers): Golden Feathers is a circular enterprise that transforms chicken feather waste into the world’s sixth natural, biodegradable, wool-like fiber. With a patented, chemical-free 27-step process, it produces sustainable textiles and tree-free paper while integrating scientific innovation with indigenous craft.
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Rishabh Kumar (Farak): Farak collaborates with rural artisans to produce organic cotton-based, handspun and handwoven items using traditional Indian techniques like wooden block printing. The brand ensures zero carbon emissions by avoiding electricity and uses fully biodegradable packaging materials.
Leadership Comments
Rakesh Bali, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing at Reliance Industries Limited, stated:
“Congratulations to the finalists—Varshne B, Radhesh Agrahari, and Rishabh Kumar from the India Jury Meet, Maximilian Raynor and Martina Boero (Cavia), winners of the UK and EU Jury Meets respectively, and Jesica Pullo (BIOTICO), winner of the APAC & Beyond Jury Meet for the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge. 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. We are proud to support this movement that brings together industry, multilateral partners, and the design community to drive meaningful, lasting change.”
Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, remarked:
“The evolution of the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge into a global platform reflects our belief that meaningful progress in fashion must be collaborative, inclusive, and boundaryless. By bringing together talent from across India, the UK, EU, APAC and Beyond, CDC is not only spotlighting innovations rooted in sustainability, but also enabling cross-cultural exchange and global dialogue on circularity. 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.”
About the Jury Panels
Each regional jury was composed of leading experts in fashion, sustainability, and design. Evaluations were based on criteria including material/process innovation, circular design, energy efficiency, closed-loop systems, social impact, and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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UK Jury: Akanksha Kamath, Chelsea Franklin, Muchaneta Ten Napel, Serva Davis
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EU Jury: Sara Sozzani Maino, Andrea Rosso, Elisa Pervinca Bellini, Leila Palermo, Mossi Traore
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India Jury: Mehernaaz Dhondy, Isha Bhansali, Dia Mirza, Karishma Shahani Khan, Pranav Khanna, Rakesh Bali, Darshana Gajare
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APAC & Beyond Jury: Christina Dean, Shaway Yeh, Flo Xu, Urvashi Kaur
Sara Sozzani Maino, Creative Director at Fondazione Sozzani and EU Jury member, shared:
“Circular Design Challenge gives the chance to the new generation to express their creativity in a responsible way. Nowadays, it is fundamental to support projects that work for a better future and think the best way to do less harm to the planet. CDC is a unique platform that, above visibility, also mentors and forms the designers.”
What’s Next: The Grand Finale
The finalists will converge at the Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI in October for the grand finale. The winner and runner-up will receive seed funding of ₹15 lakh and ₹5 lakh respectively, the RCDC Trophy, and a six-month mentorship with Orsola De Castro and Estethica. The winner will also debut a standalone showcase at Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2026.
This milestone reinforces the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge’s stature as a global platform for sustainability, collaboration, and transformative innovation in the fashion industry.
