India launches its first sustainability award

India has announced its first largest sustainability award and welcomes applicants from various start-ups across the country. A key focus will be given to increasing the use of alternative and sustainable inputs and minimizing wastes. Among the pool of applicants, about 6 start-ups will be chosen to take part in a Bootcamp set up by industry experts. The three-module boot camp aims to provide visibility to change-makers in a sustainable and circular fashion space exposing them to the aspects of Capital Rising, Business and Financial Modelling and Investor Pitch Development.

The Lakme Fashion Week with the assistance of the UN Environmental has launched the Circular Design Challenge (CDC) as an initial start-up to practice and poetry innovative solutions to sustain a circular economy across the textile and fashion value chain. After witnessing a successful first edition in partnership with Elan’s ‘Fashion For Earth’ and Intellecap’s Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF), the program is eager to return to LFW 2020. An industry-led platform called CAIF, whose mission is to strengthen the capability and build the ecosystem required to transition to a circular and apparel industry in India.

Vikas Bali, the CEO of Intellecap stated that it was the first investor readiness program designed to surface innovation in the sustainable fashion space and that they were excited to receive a heavy response in the first edition of the circular change. He further stated that at Intellecap and the circular Apparel Innovation Factory they recognize the need to build the ecosystem and capability through such an initiative and are heartened to witness the cohort from the first edition gaining access to leading accelerator programs like the FFG, Target, etc. He believes that circular change-makers were examples of CAIF’s continued commitment to providing innovators with access to capital, network and knowledge throughout their journey and he is excited to bring the second edition along with the IMG Reliance.

Darshan Gajare, Lead Sustainable Fashion at IMG Reliance stated that the circular design challenge and circular changemakers is their commitment to provide a platform for upcoming brands and start-ups working tirelessly towards transforming fashion and textile into a cleaner business