Indo-French Sustainable Fashion Initiative

Special Indo-French Edition of R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge Announced for 2026

Photos: FS Media Pro / FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week / RISE Worldwide

The Embassy of France in India and the French Institute in India, in collaboration with Reliance Industries Limited, the United Nations in India, and the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), have announced a special Indo-French edition of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC). The 2026 edition will be organised as part of the India–France Year of Innovation, reinforcing a shared commitment to sustainability, creativity, and cross-cultural exchange.

Pabitra Margherita presents award to CDC WINNER: RKIVE CITY R|ELAN CIRCULAR DESIGN CHALLENGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED NATIONS IN INDIA Show at the Lakme Fashion Week 2024 at The Grand Hotel in New Delhi, India on 10th October 2024.
Photo : Perfect Shadows / FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week / RISE Worldwide

Originally conceived in India and developed in partnership with the United Nations in India and Lakmē Fashion Week, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has grown into a globally recognised platform supporting young designers and entrepreneurs working at the intersection of fashion, circularity, and innovation. The initiative encourages responsible design thinking across the fashion and textile value chain, nurturing emerging talent that is reshaping the future of sustainable fashion.

Strengthening Indo-French Collaboration in Sustainable Fashion

The 2026 special edition reflects a shared Indo-French vision to deepen collaboration in sustainable fashion and creative innovation. With French fashion houses celebrated worldwide and Indian designers increasingly visible on the Paris Fashion Week calendar, the partnership underscores a mutual urgency to rethink how fashion is designed, produced, and consumed.

This collaboration follows the recently concluded exhibition “Textile Matters: Woven Stories Between India and France” in Paris, which highlighted cross-cultural influences through textile and fashion narratives. Building on this momentum, the Embassy of France in India is partnering with R|Elan™ CDC to create a new international platform for young designers—future makers and cultural connectors shaping global fashion discourse.

Paris Jury, Indo-French Showcase, and Grand Finale in Delhi

As part of the 2026 programme, French designers specialising in circular and sustainable fashion will be identified, with the Regional European Jury scheduled to take place in Paris in summer 2026. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode will serve as the institutional partner, bringing its global expertise and industry leadership to the initiative.

A dedicated Indo-French jury, comprising eminent professionals from the French fashion industry, will further strengthen the selection process. The collaboration will culminate in the international finale and fashion showcase of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge, to be held during Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in October 2026. The showcase will be hosted at the Embassy of France in India, New Delhi.

Fashion, Innovation, and Global Sustainability

This Indo-French partnership highlights the growing role of cultural and creative industries in addressing global sustainability challenges. It also reinforces long-term dialogue between French and Indian institutions in fashion, design, and innovation—positioning circular design as a critical tool for future-ready creative economies.