Sep 07: Kering is proud to announce the launch of its Kering Generation Award in India. It’s the first time this initiative is introduced in the region.
At Kering’s headquarters in Paris, Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering and Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President Reliance Brands Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the launch of the Kering Generation Award in India, promoting sustainability and circular innovation in the fashion industry, aiming to drive meaningful change and elevate sustainable fashion initiatives.
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 will specifically seek to identify start-ups that proposes circular initiatives, having a direct impact on resources protection. The award will collaborate with R|ElanTM Circular Design Challenge in partnership with the United Nations in India as the exclusive nominating partner. Together, Kering and Reliance Brands Ltd. commit to drive impactful change by promoting sustainable practices and supporting visionary fashion initiatives that shape a responsible future.
The Award ceremony will be held at the Embassy of France during the Fashion Week in Delhi on October 13, 2026, bringing light to the Franco-Indian Year of Innovation.
“Expanding the Kering Generation Award to India is a natural and strategic next step in our mission to support visionary impact startups that are shaping the future of luxury,” said Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer. “India is not only a massive and rapidly growing market for the luxury sector, but also a thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. We are convinced that empowering the region’s most promising entrepreneurs at the intersection of fashion, beauty and innovation will accelerate the breakthrough circular solutions needed to transform our industry.”
"The future of luxury will be shaped not only by creativity, but by the ability to innovate responsibly. India is home to exceptional talent reimagining materials, technology and circular business models, and this partnership with Kering provides an important global stage for those innovators. We are proud to bring together Reliance Brands' experience in building fashion ecosystems with Kering's leadership in sustainability to champion solutions that can influence the future of the industry. Building on R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge, this collaboration further strengthens our commitment to nurturing innovation that is both commercially viable and environmentally responsible,” said Jaspreet Chandok, Group VP Reliance Brands Limited.
