Kering holds the first "Kering Generation Award X India" ceremony

Since 2018, inspired by the Group’s sustainability signature “Crafting Tomorrow’s Luxury”, Kering has been running this Award program across several countries including China, Japan and MENA to identify promising change-making startups and technologies covering fashion. Through this Award, Kering strengthens its commitment to fostering visionary talent and advancing sustainable solutions that minimize the environmental and social impact of fashion activities all along its processes, from raw materials to end of life of the products.

The first Indian edition of this Award program sought to identify start-ups that proposes circular initiatives, having a direct positive impact on resources protection. The award collaborated with R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge in partnership with the United Nations in India as the exclusive nominating partner.

Centred on the theme of circularity for fashion and luxury, the first India edition of the Award recognised startups developing circular initiatives with a direct impact on resource protection and the future of fashion. Selected from an initial cohort of ten shortlisted innovators, the winners emerged from six finalists comprising A Blunt Story, Cancelled Plans, Golden Feathers, MaLeeMa Eco Weaves, Paiwand Studio and Without®. The finalists presented their innovations before a jury representing fashion, luxury, sustainability and international development.

The winners are:

 

The Kering Generation Award India will award €50,000 to the first-prize winner, Paiwand Studio. Additionally, all three winners - Paiwand Studio, Without® and A Blunt Story will be invited by Kering on a fully funded, 10-day visit to Europe, offering them an opportunity to engage with the global luxury and sustainability ecosystem.

The winners were selected by a distinguished jury comprising: 

- Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering; 

- Sumeet Yadav, Head, Reliance Brands Limited; 

- Manish Malhotra, Founder & Creative Director, Manish Malhotra; 

- Rahul Mishra, Founder & Creative Director, Rahul Mishra and AFEW Rahul Mishra; 

- Sujata Assomull, Journalist & Author; 

- Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India; 

- Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Women Empowerment Ambassador, CNMI and Founder, ARA LUMIERE. 

Also joining the jury virtually: 

- Pascal Morand, Executive President of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), the governing body of French fashion; 

- Radhika Raje Gaekwad, Maharani of Baroda and a prominent custodian of India’s royal heritage and cultural traditions.

“The inaugural Kering Generation Award India marks an important milestone in our commitment to fostering innovation that can help shape a more sustainable future for fashion and luxury. The three winning startups demonstrate how creativity, material innovation and circular thinking can translate into meaningful solutions, from reimagining textile waste to developing alternatives to conventional materials. India has an exciting and diverse innovation ecosystem, and we are delighted to support these entrepreneurs as they advance ideas with the potential to contribute to a more responsible and resource-conscious industry. Congratulations to Paiwand Studio, Without® and A Blunt Story on this well-deserved recognition.”, commented Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering.

“India’s emerging design and innovation ecosystem holds immense potential to shape the future of fashion through solutions that are both creative and commercially relevant. Through our partnership with Kering, we are proud to bring the Kering Generation Award to India and create a platform for innovators who are challenging conventional approaches to materials, production and resource use. The work of Paiwand Studio, Without® and A Blunt Story reflects the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit driving this shift. By connecting emerging talent with global industry expertise, we hope to help promising ideas gain visibility, build meaningful partnerships and move towards greater scale and impact.",  said Jaspreet Chandok, Group VP Reliance Brands Limited.

About Kering

Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across couture and ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy. In 2025, Kering employed 44,000 people and generated revenue of €14.7 billion.

About the Kering Generation Award

In 2017, as part of its Sustainability strategy, Kering joined the "Plug and Play - Fashion for Good" accelerator to identify more sustainable and innovative materials and processes in Europe. In 2018, in partnership with Plug and Play China, Kering launched the first edition of the "Kering Generation Award" to support Chinese startups with a positive environmental and social impact. Since then, the "Kering Generation Award" has been launched in Japan, and then in Saudi Arabia with the support of the Fashion Commission.

About Reliance Brands Limited

Reliance Brands, Limited (RBL), a subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL), was established in 2007 with a mandate to launch, scale, and nurture global fashion and lifestyle brands in India across the luxury to premium spectrum. Its portfolio today includes some of the world’s most iconic names such as Armani Exchange, Balenciaga, Bally, Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Canali, Coach, Diesel, EA7, Elan Cafe, Emporio Armani, Ferragamo, Gas, Giorgio Armani, Hamleys, Hugo Boss, Hunkemoller, Iconix, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, La Martina, Lenscrafters, Maje, Max&Co., Michael Kors, Mothercare, Muji, Paul & Shark, Paul Smith, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pret A Manger, Sandro, SKIMS, Stella McCartney, Steve Madden, Superdry, Tiffany & Co., Tod’s, Tory Burch, Tumi, Valentino, Versace, Villeroy & Boch, West Elm, Zegna, and more.
RBL currently operates over 1,855 doors across India, including standalone stores and shop-in-shops. In addition to building international brand partnerships, the company has invested in leading Indian designer labels and made key global acquisitions, including Hamleys, the world’s oldest toy retailer, now operating across 12 countries with over 175 stores globally.
For more information, please visit: https://relianceretail.com/partner-brands.html