Rkive City by Ritwik Khanna from New Delhi won the 6th R|Elan Circular Design Challenge
The 6 th edition of R|Elan Circular Design Challenge in partnership with the UN in India unveiled seven finalists who dazzled the audience with their immense creativity during Sustainable Fashion Day at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI.
The finalists for the season included EU: Wenyan Xu & Meng Wang (Saltless); APAC: Tsang Fan Yu; UK: Silvia Acién (ACIEN); India: Gautam Malik (Jaggery), Ritwik Khanna (RKive City) and Chandini Batra (A Blunt Story). Rashmick Bose & Drishti Modi (Lafaani) joined as the wildcard entry from India.
The eminent jury for the final CDC contest comprised fashion industry stalwarts.
Sara Sozzani Maino – Creative Director, Sozzani Foundation
Clare Press – Journalist, Author and Presenter
Anavila Misra – Designer and Social Entrepreneur
Shombi Sharp – UN Resident Coordinator in India
Bhumi Pednekar – UNDP India’s national advocate for the SDGs, Actor
The Rkive City label by Ritwik Khanna was declared the winner of the 6th Edition of the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge, while the Lafaani brand by Drishti Modi and Rashmick Bose was judged the runner-up.
Ritwick Khanna was very thrilled as he stated, “I think essentially winning for us was just a matter of us getting to know what we believed in, and it is for others as well. The clothes that we make and the upcycling that we do, should encourage people of the next generation to believe that this is possible. I really thank everyone who has appreciated it”
Since its inception in 2018, the R|ElanCircular Design Challenge (CDC) has become a leading platform for emerging talent in sustainable fashion to showcase their circular innovations globally. In its 6th Edition, R|Elan Circular Design Challenge has travelled across the globe, partnering with global entities like the British Council, Istituto Marangoni, and Redress to scout the most exciting innovators. These journeys across continents hosted impressive juries attended by industry experts and key international media in London, Milan, Hong Kong, and Mumbai, all coming together to select the CDC Batch of 2024. Presented by R|Elan, the next gen fabric brand of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), in partnership with the United Nations in India, CDC is committed to promoting a greener and more sustainable future by fostering eco-conscious creativity that addresses the pressing issue of waste and the carbon footprint of the fashion industry.
R|Elan Circular Design Challenge has been pivotal in driving India’s fashion industry towards eco-consciousness and aims to provide a global platform for sustainable fashion and design talent to find scalable waste-reduction solutions. CDC originated in India six years ago with a mission to nurture emerging talent in the fashion industry. Last year marked its first global edition, expanding its reach and impact.
The CDC winner received funding worth INR 15 Lakhs, CDC Trophy, and a six-month mentorship program, along with a stand-alone showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2025. The runner-up received funding worth INR 5 Lakhs and mentorship. The winner and runner-up will be mentored by Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of Fashion Revolution & Creative Director of Estethica; and this influential partnership will provide invaluable guidance to the designers.
For the past few years, the CDC has identified and supported exceptional innovators who integrate fashion with environmentally friendly advancements. Notable winners include Without by Anish Malpani – recycling multi-layer packaging to make eyewear, I Was A Sari, which upcycles discarded saris to empower women artisans, and Bandit, which masters upcycling diverse materials into trendy eco-conscious products. Moreover, the platform has supported over 25 alumni through workshops and networking, gradually transforming the fashion ecosystem towards sustainability.
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