UK Jury Selects RWRK STUDIO for Global Finals of R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge 2026
London/New Delhi, July 13, 2026 (Forever News): The eighth edition of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC), India’s flagship platform promoting circular innovation in fashion and textiles, has successfully concluded its United Kingdom Jury in London. The event brought together leading global experts from fashion, sustainability, design, and innovation to evaluate some of the most promising circular fashion entrepreneurs.
L to R_ Matthew Needham, Shailja Dubè, Muchaneta Ten Napel, Dorota Bojanowska, Farouk Braimoh, Tyler von Greenston, Porscha Hill, Sevra Davis, Heather Martin, Radhika Kaul Batra.
The UK jury selected RWRK STUDIO, founded by Farouk Braimoh, as the United Kingdom finalist, earning a place in the global finals of the prestigious competition in partnership with the United Nations in India and Lakmé Fashion Week.
The distinguished jury included renowned fashion and sustainability leaders such as Matthew Needham, Creative Director and Senior Lecturer at Central Saint Martins; Shailja Dubé from the British Council’s Institute of Positive Fashion; Muchaneta Ten Napel, Founder and CEO of Shape Innovate; Sevra Davis, Director of Architecture, Design and Fashion at the British Council; and Radhika Kaul Batra, Chief of Staff at the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in India.
This year’s UK semi-finalists showcased innovative approaches to sustainable fashion by embracing circularity, material innovation and responsible production. Designers presented creative solutions ranging from breathing new life into vintage textiles and garment reconstruction to zero-waste fashion, modular design, and upcycling industrial textile waste into contemporary apparel.
After an extensive evaluation process, RWRK STUDIO impressed the jury with its innovative approach to transforming textile waste from other industries into contemporary fashion through circular design principles.
Expressing his excitement, Farouk Braimoh, Founder of RWRK STUDIO, said the recognition validates the studio’s commitment to circular design and sustainable fashion. He added that the opportunity to showcase the collection in India and engage with a global community of like-minded designers would be an important milestone in the brand’s journey.
Rakesh Bali, Senior Vice President – PetChem, Reliance Industries Limited, congratulated the UK finalist and said the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge continues to provide emerging designers with mentorship, global exposure and material innovation to transform circular ideas into commercially viable fashion solutions. He noted that the initiative aligns with the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 and reflects India’s growing leadership in sustainable fashion.
Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, praised all participating designers for their innovative work, stating that the UK edition demonstrated the depth of creativity emerging from one of the world’s leading fashion markets. He said the challenge continues to build a global community committed to responsible design, material innovation and scalable circular solutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Sevra Davis, Director of Architecture, Design and Fashion at the British Council, said the partnership with the Circular Design Challenge has grown significantly over the past four years and continues to create meaningful impact by promoting sustainability and innovation across the fashion and textile industry.
The competition will now move to the Asia Pacific Jury on July 24 followed by the India Jury on July 28. Winners from the regional rounds will compete at the Grand Jury to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New Delhi before presenting their collections during the finale at the French Embassy in India as part of Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in October, where the Winner and Runner-Up of the eighth edition will be announced.
Launched in 2018, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has evolved into a globally recognised platform dedicated to discovering, mentoring and accelerating entrepreneurs and designers committed to circular fashion. Developed by Reliance Industries Limited’s R|Elan™ in partnership with the United Nations in India and Lakmé Fashion Week, the initiative supports sustainable innovation through mentorship, industry access and international exposure.
As the challenge expands across India, Europe, the United Kingdom and the Asia-Pacific region, it continues to strengthen global collaboration and accelerate the transition towards a more circular, sustainable and resilient fashion industry.
— Forever News Network
