October 2023

CIRCULAR DESIGN CHALLENGE 2023 CULMINATES AT THE UNITED NATIONS HOUSE IN NEW DELHI

The Grand Finale of R|Elan™️ presents Circular Design Challenge, in partnership with the United Nations in India, marked a historic moment by becoming the first ever fashion showcase to be hosted at the UN House in New Delhi. This exclusive off-site event served as the culmination of Sustainable Fashion Day during the Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI. The finale featured the six CDC finalists from across the globe who pitched their innovative circular designs to a jury comprising of Industry Leaders & experts; Atul Bagai – Country head, UNEP (India office), Christine Goulay – Founder, Sustainabelle Advisory services (Ex Head of Sustainable innovation, Kering Group), Aditi Mayer - Sustainability Advocate & photojournalist & Rahul Mishra – Fashion Designer. The robust Jury was followed by a stunning showcase of their work. Anish Malpani from Without was announced winner, while Felipe Fiallo secured the runner-up position. The esteemed presence of Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of External Affairs and Culture, as the chief guest, added grandeur to the occasion.The Grand Finale of R|Elan™️ presents Circular Design Challenge, in partnership with the United Nations in India, marked a historic moment by becoming the first ever fashion showcase to be hosted at the UN House in New Delhi. This exclusive off-site event served as the culmination of Sustainable Fashion Day during the Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI. The finale featured the six CDC finalists from across the globe who pitched their innovative circular designs to a jury comprising of Industry Leaders & experts; Atul Bagai – Country head, UNEP (India office), Christine Goulay – Founder, Sustainabelle Advisory services (Ex Head of Sustainable innovation, Kering Group), Aditi Mayer - Sustainability Advocate & photojournalist & Rahul Mishra – Fashion Designer. The robust Jury was followed by a stunning showcase of their work. Anish Malpani from Without was announced winner, while Felipe Fiallo secured the runner-up position. The esteemed presence of Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of External Affairs and Culture, as the chief guest, added grandeur to the occasion.

October 2022

RISE WORLDWIDE LAUNCHED THE IMPACT HUB PRESENTED BY WOOLMARK

This season, RISE Worldwide launched a first of its kind space to showcase Innovations in the Sustainable fashion value chain. The Impact Hub is a curated art gallery inspired space that illustrated the problems of the fashion industry, putting a spotlight on innovative solutions in an artsy way, making it aesthetic and interactive while also keeping it informative.

The exhibit had 6 enterprises rooted strongly within the ideals of sustainability, revolutionizing the fashion industry across recycling, business innovation, packaging, crafts and textile innovation.

Enterprises: Re-love, Fleather, Craste, Humanity Centered Design, 200 Million Artisans & The Woolmark Company

October 2022

RISE WORLDWIDE & BRITISH COUNCIL INDIA present FASHION, CLIMATE AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN (talk)

RISE Worldwide in collaboration with British Council India organised a riveting conversation highlighting the impact of Fashion on Climate change, and the role of women in this as leaders, activists, and victims that are part of the fashion & craft ecosystem. This power packed panel discussion brought together some of the strongest voices in fashion including veteran designer Anita Dongre, Priya Krishnamoorthy, Founder 200 Million Artisans & Sustainability advocate Aditi Mayer and was moderated by Supriya David, Editor in Chief AJIO Luxe.

This power packed panel discussion brought together some of the strongest voices in Fashion including veteran designer Anita Dongre, Priya Krishnamoorthy, & Sustainability advocate Aditi Mayer moderated by Supriya David. The riveting conversation highlighted the impact of fashion on climate change, and the role of women in this as leaders, activists, and victims that are part of the fashion & craft ecosystem. The thought provoking talk was part of British Council India’s Crafting Futures Program.

March 2022

RISE WORLDWIDE X FASHION FOR GOOD PRESENT INNOVATION FOR CIRCULARITY DIVYAM MEHTA, KARISHMA SHAHANI KHAN AND NITIN BAL CHAUHAN

This year RISE Worldwide & Fashion for Good joined hands to catalyse collaborations between supply chain disruptors and designers to present collections that spotlight Innovations for Circular fashion. Designers Divyam Mehta, Karishma Shahani Khan & Nitin Bal Chauhan developed collections with three enterprises from Fashion For Good's India cohort, AltMat, Graviky and KB Cols Sciences offering solutions for alternate textiles, natural dying & printing respectively. After the showcase at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, these collections have travelled to the Fashion for Good Museum in Amsterdam.

March 2022

R|Elan^TM presents CIRCULAR DESIGN CHALLENGE in partnership with FDCI X LFW & United Nations Environment Programme Season 4

The 4th edition of Circular Design Challenge (CDC) - India's largest Award for Sustainability was back with another set of disruptors working with waste as a resource. This year's finalists have worked with materials across discarded carpets, rubber, and wood among others while using techniques like zero-waste pattern cutting, artisanal craftsmanship, recycling and more. For the very first time, CDC engaged with its audience to vote for their favorite designer and help her/him win the award. Pieux by Pratyush Kumar emerged as a winner and took back prizes worth Rs 20L and a trophy made of upcycled materials.

October 2021

Lakme Fashion Week 2021 | Bylanes - Crafting the New Normal - Documentary

Bylanes - Crafting the New Normal' is RISE Worldwide's initiative to capture the current state of business for the artisan clusters in the country since a lot has changed over the years, especially in the past 2 years due to the pandemic. This documentary explores the way craftspeople are adapting to technology and digitisation be it through using online tools for training, selling or marketing; how the youth are looking at craft through a new lens and growing into micro-entrepreneurs. Featured were the craft hubs of Chanderi, Srinagar and Kutch but truly it was a mirror to India's hands that created magic across the length and breadth of the country.

October 2021

Tencel x Satya Paul

The closing show of Day 3 featured Satya Paul's newest collection modeled by actress Triptii Dimri and actor Rahul Bose. The pair turned showstoppers for the collection "The Master's Words," where the city of Mumbai was the canvas, and the colours were the cues.

October 2021

Bandit Showcase

Bandit by Satyajit Vetoskar, the winner of the Circular Design challenge showcased "Shourai" which literally means the future,' in Japanese. Satyajit used his trademark tarpaulin with billboard flex, canvas and car seat belts to make accessories like duffels, backpacks, and cross body bags. He also showcased a jewellery collection created from aircraft aluminium.

Summer Resort 2020

TACKLING MULTI LAVER PACKAGING WASTE - A CIRCULAR SOLUTION IN COLLABORATION WITH AFROZ SHAH FOUNDATION & RISE Woridwide Formerly IMG Rellance

Lakmé Fashion Week (RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance) joined with Afroz Shah - UN Environment's Champion of the Earth, Indian of the year 2017, CNN Hero 2019 and United Nations to develop a Circular Solution for MLP waste. Our endeavor with this project is to illustrate a creative and circular solution to MLP waste and inspire & enable brands and organizations to consider this as an alternative material to virgin plastics or other traditional materials, typically used for single use.

Season Fluid 2020

RISE Worldwide Presents All About India

As a response to the impact of COVID-19 on marginalised textile clusters, RISE Worldwide (Formerly IMG Reliance) facilitated a project called 'All About India', to bring about designer & cluster collaborations to revive crafts and thereby livelihoods.

A curated showcase of 6 designers marked the commencement of this project. Established designers namely, Abraham & Thakore, Rajesh Pratap Singh for Satya Paul, Anavila, Suket Dhir, Payal Khandwala & Urvashi Kaur presented key pieces from their collections to spotlight crafts like, Block prints, Ikkat, Katwa & Linen weaving, Brocade, Jamdani, & Shibori respectively, while also talking about the artisans and the clusters they work with as a tribute to their constant support and dedication to their work.

Winter Festive 2019

LAUNCH OF PROJECT SU.RE SUSTAINABLE RESOLUTION - Indian Apparel Industry's Largest Commitment to Sustainability

The Union Minister for Textiles, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani launched Project SU.RE, a move towards sustainable fashion, at Lakmé Fashion Week on its Sustainable Fashion Day in Mumbai on 22nd August 2019. The project was launched by the Minister, along with the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), United Nations in India, and RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance, the organizers of Lakmé Fashion Week. Project SU.RE has been developed by CMAI, the largest apparel industry association and RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance, the leader in sustainable fashion movement in India in association with Ministry of Textiles.

SU.RE stands for 'Sustainable Resolution' - a firm commitment from the industry to move towards fashion that contributes to a cleaner environment. Project SU.RE is a commitment by India's apparel industry to set a sustainable pathway for the Indian fashion industry. 16 of India's top fashion and retail brands are signatories to SU.RE such as Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, Arvind Fashions, Bestsellers, Biba, Future Group, House of Anita Dongre, 109F, Lifestyle, Levi's, Max, Raymond, Shopper's Stop, Spykar, Trends, W, Westside. The launch of project SU.RE at Lakmé Fashion Week is supported by the United Nations in India, Lenzing EcoVero that stands for ecologically responsible production of viscose fibre made from the renewable & certified raw material wood, and R Elan that produces Green Gold fibre made from 100% used PET bottles with one of the lowest fibre carbon footprint globally.

Winter Festive 2019

COTTON CHAMPIONS: FARMERS BY C&A FOUNDATION (now The Laudes Foundation) WITH 11.11/ELEVEN ELEVEN

C&A Foundation (Now The Laudes Foundation) is a corporate foundation that fundamentally transforms the fashion industry. C&A Foundation works with change-makers all over the world, giving them financial support, expertise and networks so they can make the fashion industry work better for every woman and man it touches.

In this presentation, cotton farmers spoke on the LFW platform about the socio-economic and environmental case for organic cotton, followed by a special showcase by 11.11/eleven eleven, the luxe-pret label by the entrepreneurs Shani Himanshu and Mia Morikawa, emphasizing on creating links between farmers, weavers, vegetable dyeing and block printing traditions.

The label created a collection of organic cotton knits using ancient Indian craft techniques. Supported by C&A Foundation and enabled by RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance, this collaboration was a movement for sustainable & organic cotton in the Indian fashion industry.

Summer Resort 2019

THE WOOLMARK COMPANY X PÉRO SUPPORTED BY BHUTTICO WEAVERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY

The Woolmark Company, the leading authority on merino wool from Australia and péro, one of India's high-end handmade fashion labels along with Kullu based wool weavers cooperative, Bhuttico, came together to create a unique collaborâtion from #FarmToFashion. The "Grown in Australia, Made in India" campaign showcased handmade merino wool textiles with pero's signature styles.

Summer Resort 2019

CIRCULAR DESIGN CHALLENGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME, FASHION FOR EARTH BY R I ELAN™ LAKME FASHION WEEK

The Circular Design Challenge (CDC) is India's largest sustainable fashion award. It is a platform for young fashion/accessory entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and collections made using materials from diverse sources of waste including plastic to promote circularity. CDC received over 900 registrations in its first season, from 30 different cities of India. 8 finalists were shortlisted for the final jury in consultation with Intellecap's CAIF, a pioneer in consulting sustainable enterprises dedicated to social and environmental change. All 8 finalists made a pitch and showcased collections made with circular design principles to a jury of leading industry experts. 'I was a sari' was announced by winner who won a cash prize of Rs. 20 lacs along with other benefits.

The 4th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA4) held in 2019 in Nairobi is the world's highest-level decision-making body on the environment that addresses the critical environmental challenges. That year, Circular Design Challenge winners Stefano Funari and Poornima Pande of I was a Sari, showcased their upcycled collection to a global audience of stakeholders leading the charge of sustainability.

Mr. Rahul Chhabra - High Commissioner of India to Kenya and Permanent Representative of India to UN Environment Programme, Michael Stanley Jones of UN Environment, Gautam Vazirani, Sustainable Fashion Curator & Strategist RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance, and Nikhil Deshpande, Head - Sustainable Solutions Petrochemicals shared their encouraging remarks during the session.

The second season of CDC (2020) received over 400 registrations from 40 different cities of India, from which 5 finalists were shortlisted for the final jury. Malai was declared as the winner for this season and will be presenting a full collection at LFW Digital first edition.

During the session, PETA India in association with Lakmé Fashion Week, presented a special award for 'Best Innovation in Vegan Fashion' to Fleather by Kanpur Flower Recycling company discovered during CDC 2020.

Jan, 2019

MINISTRY OF TEXTILES, GOVT. OF INDIA PRESENTS ARTISAN SPEAK TEXTILES FASHION SHOW GURATED BY RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Rellance

'Artisan Speak' - a first of its kind showcase curated by RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance, took place at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Elephanta caves near Mumbai, which marked the beginning of major commitments by the private sector towards the development of India's Handlooms.

The showcase by established and emerging designers along with artisans was based on GI (Geographical indication) textiles from various regions across India for the promotion and awareness of GI. The showcase illustrated the potential of GI handloom and handcrafted products of India and strengthen skills and supply chain capacity of grass-root stakeholders.

Some of the key designers and artisans that participated are: Rahul Mishra showcased Chikankari Payal Khandwala showcased Benarasi brocades Masterweaver Shantilal Bhangade showcased Paithani Gaurang showcased Kancheepuram silks Anka by Dr. Ushadevi Balakrishnan showcased Balarampuram sarees Karishma Shahani Khan showcased Kota Doria/Chanderi textiles Padmaja showcased Maheshwari textiles Artisan Rajib Debnath (Burdwan)showcased Jamdani sari's Abraham & Thakore showcased handblock handloom cotton Meera Muzaffar Ali showcased Chikankari.

Winter Festive 2018

#PLANETPOSITIVE Tencel^tm PRESENTS RAJESH PRATAP SINGH

Tencel^tm collaborated with designer Rajesh Pratap Singh for the second time at Lakmé Fashion Week. This season, the designer's core idea was to combine the strength of one of the world's most ecological fibres, Tencel^tm, along with an indigenous magic of Indian heritage crafts. The collection had a variety of Tencel^tm yarns and fabrics infused with iconic Indian crafts such as Chanderi, Benarasi, Jamdani, hand-block prints and more. The result was a one of its kind sustainable fashion collection that represented innovation on a global level where a modern green fibre and heritage artisanal crafts came together.

Tencel^tm branded lyocell fiber (made by Lenzing Austria) is derived from sustainable wood sources and is harvested from 100 percent traceable certified and controlled sources following stringent guidelines of the Lenzing Wood and Pulp Policy. Tencel^tm branded lyocell fiber is produced in a closed loop solvent-spinning production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers with high resource efficiency and low ecological impact. This economically viable manufacturing process recycles process water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%. This process received the European Award for the Environment from the European Commission in the category 'The Technology Award for Sustainable Development'.

June 2018

Launch of RIELAN Earthee by Anita Dongre on Word Environment Day 2018 in assoclation with Lame Fashion Week

Keeping the sustainability conversation in focus on World Environment Day 2018, R|Elan, the House of Anita Dongre and Lakmé Fashion Week launched 'The Earth Tee'.

RIL collaborated with RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance and collected 25,000 post-consumer (used) PET bottles from the LFW venue - JioGarden at BKC. The bottles were processed, recycled and converted into R|Elan™ GreenGold fabrics - one of the greenest fabrics in the world. 'The Earth Tee' made from this recycled fabric is designed by one of the leading voices of Sustainability in India - Anita Dongre.

This was followed by #PlanetHeroes - a special initiative by Lakmé Fashion Week and R|ElanTM to celebrate World Environment Day 2019 and honour heroes who have championed the cause for improving our environment, where the #EarthTee was designed by Yavi.

Summer Resort 2018

Launch of APONIR: Action Plan on North East Report in Collaboration with United Nations in India

This action oriented dialogue at LFW February 2018 brought attention of the mainstream stakeholders through stories of select champions & gamechangers, and created a movement towards development of supply chain frameworks that enabled sustainable livelihoods for northeast region artisans and leverage the potential of the creative economy of the region.'Action Plan on North East India Report' (APONIR), a project launched at LFW with an aim to strengthen the livelihoods of artisans by providing them with development support and market linkages. The event marked 1 year of APONIR by RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance and UNDP in association with implementation partner GoCoop. The achievements and interventions of the project made in marginalised handloom clusters in Assam in areas such as Barkhetri (Nalbari) and Rampur (Kamrup) towards sustainable production and development was highlighted by key speakers.

Gocoop team conducted research and assessment in the clusters. The team interacted with artisans to understand the structure, products, market and challenges faced by the clusters. Sourcing team from Raymond and House of Anita Dongre visited the clusters in Assam in areas such as Barkhetri (Nalbari) and Rampur (Kamrup) to interact with artisans and develop textiles at the cluster for a capsule collection that was showcased at Lakmé Fashion Week later.

Anita Dongre Grassroot showcased a special capsule collection with Eri and Muga textiles handwoven by artisans in the clusters, while Antar-Agni collaborated with Raymond's for a collection made using similar textiles.

Summer Resort 2018

Crafting Futures India presented by British Council India with Tilla by Aratrik Dev Varman & Bethany Williams Supported by Fashion Revolution & RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance

The British Council's global 'Crafting Futures' India program, supported by RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance and Fashion Revolution India showcased British designer Bethany Williams and Indian designer Aratrik Dev Varman of the label 'Tilla", who explored new fashion systems and approached female textile artisans in the North-East Region. The aim was to grow their livelihoods and economic opportunities.

Designers Aratrik Dev Varman and Bethany Williams (UK based sustainable designer) visited various clusters in Tripura as a part of the residency for Crafting Futures programme. They worked closely with artisans to develop textiles for collections to be showcased at Lakme Fashion Week February 2019.

It was a special exhibition with memoirs from Tripura, and a heart-warming presentation by Aratrik Dev Varman & Bethany Williams.

Summer Resort 2018

Launch of Silal Label with Usha Silal, featuring rural women communitles of Usha Silar School

Launch of a new sustainable fashion label called Usha Silai by Usha International in collaboration with RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance through a fashion forward initiative.
#REIMAGINEFASHION

Usha Silai featured works of rural women communities under the design intervention, training, mentorship & collaboration of 4 sustainable designers Amrich:, Soham Dave, Sreejith Jeevan and Sayantan Sarkar created collections. The collaboration empowered these women with skills and resources by which they could create clothes and accessories and earn livelihoods

Following this, ace designer Rohit Bal developed a collection in 2019, levering the potential of Kashmiri women who were trained by the Usha Silai team which was also showcased at Lakmé Fashion Week.

September, 2017

Sustainable Fashion exhibition at the International Fashion Showcase 2017, where India won the 'Best Country' Award

India was declared the winner of "Best Country Award" for the exhibit curated by RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance in partnership with 6Degree and supported by Etihad Airways and British Council, presenting "The Indian Pastoralists" - a special sustainable fashion exhibition at the International Fashion Showcase (IFS) held during the London Fashion Week. The five designer labels, Ka-Sha by Karishma Shahani Khan, Kaleekal by Alan Alexander Kaleekal, Ikai by Ragini Ahuja, PELLA by Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama, Antar-Agni by Ujjawal Dubey, were selected based on their contemporary Indian aesthetics that offer a global appeal.

Winter Festive 2017

#CRAFTISCOOL A collaborative showcase BY the artisans of PARAMPARIK KARIGAR & designers

#Craftiscool: RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance & NGO Paramparik Karigar created a unique collaboration between 5 next-generation designers and 5 master craftsmen: Aranya Natural with Rouka, Sarfraz Khatri with Verandah, Mohammad Yusuf with Vineet Rahul, Shohel Khatri with The Pot Plant and Bherulal Chippa with Poochki. The showcase re-imagined heritage Indian crafts of block printing and resist dyeing at LFW AUGUST 2017.

June, 2017

Textiles India 2017 Symphony of Weaves Fashion Show

RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance collaborated with Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India in July 2017 to curate Symphony of Weaves, one of India's largest fashion show comprising of 30 Indian designers and artisans covering the entire spectrum of sustainable fashion in the country. Works of master artisans in handloom/handicraft such as Chaman Siju and Bherulal Chhipa was showcased alongside established Indian designers such as Sabyasachi & Manish Arora.

Summer Resort 2017

RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Rellance presented #Artisansorkutch, a unique curation where mastercraftsmen played designers

ArtisansOfKutch under Somaiya Kala Vidya, 2 independent award winning mastercraftsmen, Chaman Siju and Sufiyan Khatri with Australian designer Lisa Hall and a prominent craft based NGO's operating in Kutch, Shrujan presented their striking and innovative Kutch textile stories through their collection as designers, breaking the industry norm of craft designed by professional designers and executed by craft technicians. An initiative by RISE Worldwide Formerly IMG Reliance.

Summer Resort 2017

NGO KRANTI WITH Mandeep Nagi Of SHADES OF INDIA, empowering girls from marginalised communities

Delhi-based fashion designer, Mandeep Nagi joined hands with Kranti - an NGO that empowered girls from Mumbai's redlight areas to be agents of social change for a unique studio presentation at LFW Feb 2017. Demonstrating pride and freedom in their attires from Nagi's 'The Bagh Collection', the girls from Kranti performed a skit to recount their experiences on the dais.

Winter Festive 2015

Launch of ANITA DONGRE GRASSROOT at Lakmé Fashion Week

Anita Dongre debuted her label Anita Dongre Grassroot at #LakméFashionWeek Winter/Festive 2015 on Sustainable

Fashion and Indian Textiles day. She celebrated her weavers by letting them take centre stage at her show; much over-due and an unforgettable moment.

Winter Festive 2014

Unveiling of the Handloom mark at LFW by Sri Santosh Kumar Gangwar (then Minister of State for Textiles)

Handloom Mark is the Government of India's initiative to provide a collective identity to the handloom products in India. The launch of this mark was facilitated by Lakmé Fashion Week where, Santosh Kumar Gangwar, then minister of state for textiles lit the lamp to inaugurate Lakmé Fashion Week's (LFW) Winter Festive 2014 edition bi-annual Textile Day and also unveiled the Handloom Mark.