A special edition of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge will be organised in 2026 as part of the India–France Year of Innovation. The announcement was made by the Embassy of France in India and the French Institute in India, in partnership with Reliance Industries Limited, the United Nations in India, and the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode.
Originally launched in India and developed with the United Nations in India and Lakmē Fashion Week, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has grown into an international platform supporting young designers and entrepreneurs working across fashion, sustainability, and innovation. The initiative promotes circular design practices throughout the fashion and textile value chain, encouraging responsible approaches to design and production.
The 2026 Indo-French edition reflects a shared objective between France and India to deepen cooperation in sustainable fashion and creative innovation. It builds on growing exchanges between the two countries, including the increasing presence of Indian designers at Paris Fashion Week and the recently concluded “Textile Matters: Woven Stories Between India and France” exhibition in Paris, which ended on 4 January 2026.
As part of the collaboration, French designers working in sustainable and circular fashion will be shortlisted, and a Regional European Jury will be convened in Paris during the summer of 2026. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode will serve as the institutional partner, and a dedicated Indo-French jury comprising leading French fashion industry professionals will also be formed.
The initiative will conclude with the international finale and fashion showcase of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge, scheduled to take place during Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in Delhi in October 2026. The final showcase will be hosted at the Embassy of France in India.
The collaboration highlights the role of cultural and creative industries in addressing sustainability challenges and aims to strengthen long-term engagement between French and Indian institutions in fashion and innovation.
