R|ELANTM presented the Circular Design Challenge show in partnership with the United Nations in India during sustainable fashion day at Lakme Fashion Week. (L to R) Mr Hemant D Sharma, Sector Head – Polyester, Reliance Industries Limited, Mr Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India, Ms Bhaavya Goenka of IRO IRO, Ms Kriti Tula of DOODLAGE and Mr Sudheer Rajbhar of CHAMAR.
National, 10th March 2023: Circular Design Challenge (CDC) presented by R|ElanTM is India’s largest platform and award for design entrepreneurs working in Circular Fashion, in association with United Nations in India and Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI.
CDC celebrated its fifth year since its inception at Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI. To celebrate this milestone, Circular Design Challenge hosted a special showcase by three of its alumni – labels Chamar, Doodlage-Made from Waste and Iro Iro.
With the ambition to expand its presence and collaborate with like-minded partners and attract design talent across the world, Circular Design Challenge announced the global expansion of its program from the next season in October 2023.
The program will collaborate with global partners including the British Council for the UK, the Berlin Fashion Hub for Germany and the Redress Award for Hong Kong/Asia Pacific among others in a bid to invite the participation of talent from across the world. Shortlisted finalists will get a chance to pitch their work to an esteemed jury at the October 2023 edition of Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, and the winner will be awarded prizes worth INR 20+ Lakh, CDC Trophy and six-month mentorship program, along with the chance to present a stand-alone showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in March 2024.
Mr Hemant D Sharma, Sector Head – Polyester, Reliance Industries Limited, said, “Five years ago, we initiated the Circular Design Challenge, to accomplish the vision of our chairman Mr Mukesh Ambani, to turn India into a world leader in the adoption of sustainable and green manufacturing practices. In the past half-decade, the popularity of the Circular Design Challenge has grown exponentially. It has now become a trend in the Indian fashion value chain which is nurturing talent in the sustainable and environment-friendly sphere and promoting the waste reduction in the industry. Encouraged by CDC’s success in India and unprecedented international interest, especially from the leading global countries, we are committed to expanding this initiative across the globe.”
Mr Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India, said, “The UN in India is proud to be a founding partner of the Circular Design Challenge since its beginning five years ago. The UN and CDC are united in our belief that fashion can and must be both a source of joy, celebrating culture, human expression, and innovation, and a force for greening our world. Weaving together so many different threads of society and the economy, a more sustainable fashion industry can help drive the achievement of the global SDGs across a broadcloth of value chains. We look forward to the next stage, unlocking circular solutions on a global scale with CDC.”
Mr Jaspreet Chandok, Head of RISE Fashion and Lifestyle, said, “The fifth edition of CDC is a huge milestone for all of us. It has been tremendously satisfying to see the program receive increasing participation and appreciation with each passing year. Expanding CDC to global frontiers is in line with our ambition to make sustainable fashion commonplace. We are thankful to R|Elan™️, and UN in India for their continued support season on season that has made Circular Design Challenge such a prestigious platform in the country. We now look forward to making this platform a bigger success world over, with our global partners.”
Taking the milestone celebrations further, each of these designers will submit a Tee shirt design for the EarthTee. The winning design will be chosen via digital polling and will be launched on Earth Day 2023. The EarthTee by R|ElanTM will be made using PET bottles that will be collected at Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in March 2023 edition.
IRO IRO – FOR THE PYAAR OF FASHION
The ‘Iro Iro’ label by Bhaavya Goenka presented a collection that was an ode to love and therefore titled “Pyaar”, which is often seen in memorable items like a grandfather’s coat, mother’s scarves, father’s jumpers, friend’s T-shirt, or grandmother’s saris.
Inspired by this, “Pyaar” – the line of creations by ‘Iro Iro’ used upcycled many materials with the wonderful indigenous craft practices in myriad colours. These could turn into exchangeable clothing, accessories and even footwear that can be used by people in a caring and loving manner.
Eye-catching on the ramp were the cute indigo culottes and boxy cropped long-sleeved jacket both ideal for cool fun days that last all day. The intricately detailed long-sleeved, midi shift in indigo and grey showcased feminine balloon sleeves and intriguing, contrast, fabric, side seam, and insets for more drama.
The inspiration further revealed the beauty of the natural world of colour and gradation, as well as textures and patterns that proved fashion had taken a more loving and enduring path.
The “Pyaar” collection by Bhaavya Goenka for the ‘Iro Iro’ label brought a great fashion dimension to the forefront.
Bhaavya Goenka said, “Through collaboration and co-creation, our aim is to build transparency and camaraderie in fashion, an industry obnoxiously famous for being opaque. In this spirit, we have collaborated with a Jaipur-based footwear brand, Chal, to develop shoes from our signature handwoven upcycled textiles, with upcycled tyre soles an innovation by Chal. We have also collaborated with a Berlin-based Headwear design studio, Studio Lennie, who has designed hats from our textiles for the collection Pyaar. Collaborations help us better advocate for an equitable, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible fashion & textile industry.”
CHAMAR – EMBRACING LEFTOVERS
Like a warm embrace, the ‘Chamar’ label by Sudheer Rajbhar unveiled the “Blacking Boot Polish” line, which was all about animal hides and recycled rubber that emerged from industrial leftovers, automotive scraps and other discarded materials.
Rubber was the main communicator skin, as the collection mobilised the sustainable philosophy that was the foundation of the underlying community involved in leatherworking practices to create useful items of daily use like bags, backpacks, and wallets. The styles were practical and timeless which would enable the buyer to treasure them for a long time.
The ‘Chamar’ label unveiled a revised look with the “Blacking Boot Polish” line with the most popular line of bags on garments that were inspired by black boot polish, which is commonly known as blacking.
Sudheer Rajbhar added, “True fashion celebrates the beauty of diversity, and we are elated that this fashion week highlighted minorities who embrace their first skin and who can choose a second. At its essence, clothing is about self-expression and the freedom to choose one’s own identity or another skin. Let us continue to celebrate and uplift those who challenge societal norms and redefine what it means to be fashionable.”
DOODLAGE – MADE FROM WASTE
The ‘Doodlage’ label by designer Kriti Tula unveiled the “Nostalgia” collection, made from waste, which was a memorable, nostalgic journey back to simpler and greener times when up cycling and limited resources, as well as hand-me-downs, were part of life. For a nostalgic look at fashion, the label walked down memory lane to an era of kids in the 90s.
The apparel once again explored recycled material, as well as upcycled post-industry waste, was used for dresses, jackets, and belted creations. Highlighting the sustainable look further, were the childlike floral drawings as prints, while denim printed with fabric information was a unique feature of the apparel.
The “Nostalgia” collection by Kriti Tula for her ‘Doodlage’ label will encourage people to wear their values and change what they want to see and invest in.
Kriti Tula added, “We are so excited to showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI after the pandemic again. We are thrilled to see the show being received so well and our effort to present yet another season-less collection made from waste is appreciated. Everything in the collection is envisioned from the industrial waste and dead stock that we collect from factories and recycled material made on handloom.”
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