- Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri, Ustat Kharbanda and Saurabh Maurya emerge as India Finalists in R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge 2026
- Their ideas span bio-sequins, textile upcycling, post-consumer waste and craft-led circular fashion—putting Indian youth innovation in the global spotlight
- India cohort selected after rigorous jury evaluation involving leading voices from fashion, sustainability, business and creative industries
- Over 220 global applications narrowed to 23 semi-finalists and seven finalists across India, Europe, UK and Asia Pacific & Beyond
- Global finalists to face Grand Jury at United Nations House in New Delhi before finale at Embassy of France during Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI
- Challenge seeks to transform bold circular ideas into scalable businesses while advancing sustainable fashion and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
NE YOUTH & INNOVATION BUREAU
MUMBAI, JULY 31
What if fashion’s next big breakthrough does not begin with more raw material—but with the waste already lying around us? Four Indian innovators are answering that question with ideas that could make discarded textiles, plastic waste and traditional craftsmanship the raw material of a radically different fashion future.
Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri by Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda and Margn by Saurabh Maurya have emerged as the India Finalists of the eighth R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (RCDC), placing Indian youth creativity, entrepreneurship and sustainability firmly on the global fashion map.
Presented by R|Elan™ of Reliance Industries Limited, the United Nations in India and Lakmé Fashion Week, the challenge has completed its global jury rounds and assembled an international cohort of innovators seeking to redefine what fashion can mean in a resource-conscious world.
Four Indian ideas, one circular revolution
The Indian finalists represent four distinct approaches to circular fashion.
Nitya Amarnath’s Botto Labs is pioneering next-generation bio-sequins designed to replace plastic waste in high fashion, targeting one of the most visually glamorous yet environmentally challenging aspects of the industry.
Saloni Jhaveri is transforming discarded textiles into innovative design, demonstrating how materials that might otherwise be thrown away can acquire a new creative life.
Ustat Kharbanda’s Duja focuses on upcycling post-consumer textile waste into one-of-a-kind apparel, turning discarded clothing into distinctive fashion pieces.
Saurabh Maurya’s Margn combines contemporary fashion, craftsmanship and circular design, creating a bridge between traditional making and a more sustainable future.
Together, the four demonstrate that circularity need not mean sacrificing aesthetics or ambition. Waste can become material, sustainability can become design and environmental responsibility can become a business opportunity.
‘The 13-year-old girl dreamt of this moment’
For the finalists, the journey is as personal as it is professional.
Nitya Amarnath, Founder, Botto Labs, said: “Becoming a finalist is surreal, and it’s still sinking in. I’m genuinely excited to get to know my fellow finalists and mentors, learn from their diverse experiences, explore ideas and be part of the CDC community that’s collectively reimagining the future of fashion.”
Saloni Jhaveri, Founder & Designer, Saloni Jhaveri, said: “When I heard them announce ‘Saloni Jhaveri’, it felt like I was living the dream. The 13-year-old girl who dreamt of this moment, is elated and extremely humbled. And today, as a finalist, I feel one step closer towards fulfilling my purpose. I look forward to being a part of the community that is making a change. I am super excited to be working alongside the wonderful mentors, who I have always looked up to.”
Ustat Kharbanda, Founder, Duja, said: “We’re incredibly grateful and excited to be selected as finalists. It’s a meaningful validation of the work we’re doing at DUJA and reinforces our belief that great design and circularity can go hand in hand. We’re looking forward to learning from this journey and taking our impact to the next level.”
For Saurabh Maurya, Founder, Margn, the recognition marks a crucial milestone in a journey that began only a year ago: “I’m very excited to be selected as a finalist for CDC 2026. This is also really important and special for us because we started our circular journey one year back, and getting selected has also given us the opportunity to be mentored by people whom we have been looking up to for a very long time. We have also improvised our processes, learned business strategy, and understood how to make these circular practices a core part of our system and the design practice that we’ve been doing for the last five years.”
From India to a global circular fashion cohort
The Indian finalists were selected following a rigorous evaluation by a jury that brought together Ainee Nizami Ahmedi, Editorial Director, ELLE India & ELLE Gourmet; Shaleena Nathani, Celebrity Stylist & Fashion Consultant; Karishma Shahani Khan, Creative Director, Ka-Sha; Rakesh Bali, Senior Vice President – PetChem, Reliance Industries Limited; and Darshana Gajare, Head of Sustainability, Lakmé Fashion Week.
The jury represented a powerful combination of fashion expertise, creative leadership, business understanding and sustainability knowledge.
The global competition attracted more than 220 applications, from which 23 semi-finalists were shortlisted across India, Europe, the United Kingdom and Asia Pacific & Beyond.
The regional jury rounds have now produced seven global finalists.
The other regional finalists are Yoshita 1967 by Anil Padia from Europe, RWRK Studio by Farouk Braimoh from the United Kingdom and BYO by Tommy Tedji representing Asia Pacific & Beyond.
India’s circular talent gets global backing
The challenge’s industry leadership sees the Indian finalists as evidence of a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of marrying creativity with commercial and environmental purpose.
Rakesh Bali, Senior Vice President – PetChem, Reliance Industries Limited, said: “Heartfelt congratulations to Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri the founder of Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda and Margn by Saurabh Maurya on being selected as the India Finalists of the eighth edition of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge. This year’s Indian cohort was truly exceptional, the creativity, boldness of ideas and commitment to sustainable innovation on display reaffirm India’s growing leadership in circular fashion. At Reliance, we have always believed that lasting change begins with backing innovators willing to challenge convention. Through the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge, we remain committed to nurturing this next generation of talent by providing mentorship, visibility and material innovation to help transform bold circular ideas into scalable business solutions. We look forward to seeing them represent India on the global stage.”
Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, said: “Congratulations to Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri the founder of Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda and Margn by Saurabh Maurya on being selected as the India Finalists of the eighth edition of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge. Their work reflects the extraordinary calibre of entrepreneurs who are redefining fashion through innovation, craftsmanship and circular thinking. It is encouraging to witness emerging talent creating solutions that are not only creatively compelling but also commercially relevant. We are excited to see them progress to the Grand Jury and continue showcasing India’s growing leadership in circular fashion globally.”
UN: Fashion can become a force for the SDGs
The challenge has also attracted strong support from the United Nations in India, reinforcing the link between fashion innovation and broader sustainable-development goals.
Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, said: “I congratulate Botto Labs by Nitya Amarnath, Saloni Jhaveri the founder of Saloni Jhaveri, Duja by Ustat Kharbanda and Margn by Saurabh Maurya on being named the India Finalists. This year’s cohort reflects the growing momentum of innovators demonstrating that sustainability, creativity and entrepreneurship can come together to address some of fashion’s most pressing challenges. By bringing together designers, industry leaders and institutions, the Challenge continues to foster collaboration that advances circular solutions and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. We look forward to seeing the finalists continue their inspiring journeys and help shape a more sustainable future for fashion.”
The next stop is United Nations House in New Delhi, where the seven global finalists will face the Grand Jury.
Their collections will then take centre stage at the finale showcase at the Embassy of France in India during Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in October, as part of the India–France Year of Innovation 2026.
The Winner and Runner-Up of the eighth R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge will be announced after the final showcase.
For India’s emerging creative entrepreneurs, the contest is therefore about much more than a fashion award.
It is a chance to demonstrate that the next generation can turn waste into worth, craft into innovation and sustainability into a globally scalable business proposition.
And perhaps the most powerful message emerging from the Indian cohort is this:
The future of fashion may not belong to those who create more—it may belong to those young innovators who learn to create more from what the world already has.
