The R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (RCDC) 2026, India’s leading platform for circular innovation in fashion and textiles, has announced BYO By Tommy Tedji as the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Finalist following an evaluation by a distinguished international jury of sustainability experts, fashion leaders, investors, and designers.
Presented by Reliance Industries Limited’s R|Elan™, the United Nations in India, and Lakmé Fashion Week, the challenge continues to foster next-generation innovations that promote circularity, responsible material use, and sustainable business models across the global fashion ecosystem.
Global Jury Recognizes Circular Fashion Innovation
The APAC Jury brought together globally recognized experts, including Christina Dean (Founder, Redress), Hong Zheng (Founder, Greenext), Rina Singh (Creative Director, EKA), Jacinta FitzGerald (Chief Executive, Fashion & Textiles New Zealand), and Nicky Mac Callum (Venture Partner, Elaphurus Capital).
The jury assessed a diverse group of innovators representing the Asia-Pacific region, each showcasing unique approaches to circular fashion through material innovation, regenerative design, indigenous craftsmanship, and zero-waste production.
BYO By Tommy Tedji Advances to Global Finals
Among this year’s semi-finalists, BYO By Tommy Tedji stood out for transforming discarded leather waste into modular, reconfigurable fashion products that extend product life while reducing waste.
Founder Tommy Ambiyo Tedji expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as an important milestone that reinforces the company’s commitment to creating a more circular future for fashion through innovation and responsible design.
Circular Fashion Driving Industry Transformation
The R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has become an important global platform connecting entrepreneurs, designers, investors, and industry leaders working to accelerate the transition toward a circular fashion economy.
This year’s APAC finalists highlighted innovations spanning biodegradable biomaterials, renewable textiles, regenerative design, zero-waste menswear, and community-led craftsmanship—demonstrating how sustainability is reshaping apparel manufacturing and product development.
Industry Leaders Applaud Emerging Innovators
Rakesh Bali, Senior Vice President – PetChem, Reliance Industries Limited, congratulated BYO By Tommy Tedji and noted that the quality of innovations showcased this year reflects the growing potential of the Asia-Pacific region to lead the future of circular fashion.
Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, emphasized that the future of fashion belongs to innovators who challenge traditional manufacturing models with creativity and purpose-driven solutions.
Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, highlighted that initiatives such as the Circular Design Challenge help advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by bringing together entrepreneurs, institutions, and industry leaders to promote sustainable and circular systems.
Next Stop: Global Grand Jury
Following the APAC jury round, the competition will continue with the India Jury before regional finalists advance to the Grand Jury at the United Nations House in New Delhi later this year. The finalists will also present their innovations during Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI, where the overall Winner and Runner-Up of the eighth edition of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge will be announced.
Since its launch in 2018, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has evolved into a globally recognized platform that supports entrepreneurs developing scalable circular solutions for the textile and fashion industry through mentorship, industry access, and international exposure.