L-R_ Sumeet Yadav, Rahul Mishra, Rakesh Bali, Jaspreet Chandok
Kering, the global luxury group behind renowned Houses including Gucci, Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta, in partnership with Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), announced Paiwand Studio, Without® and A Blunt Story as the winners of the inaugural Kering Generation Award India at the Embassy of France in New Delhi. Centred on the theme of circularity for fashion and luxury, the first India edition of the Award recognises 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 three winning startups demonstrate distinct approaches to circular innovation, resource protection and sustainable material development. Paiwand Studio, founded by Ashita Singhal, is a circular textile studio that transforms pre-consumer garment waste into new handloom fabrics and embroidery, bringing traditional craftsmanship into contemporary circular design. Without®, founded by Anish Malpani, is a deep-tech recycling venture that reimagines difficult-to-use waste into high-performance textiles and materials, creating new possibilities for resource recovery and circular applications. A Blunt Story, founded by Chandni Batra, focuses on material innovation, transforming waste into next-generation footwear components and exploring alternative approaches to conventional footwear production. 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; and Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Women Empowerment Ambassador, CNMI and Founder, ARA LUMIERE. Also joining the jury virtually are Pascal Morand, Executive President of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), the governing body of French fashion; and Radhika Raje Gaekwad, Maharani of Baroda and a prominent custodian of India’s royal heritage and cultural traditions.
First launched in China in 2018, the Kering Generation Award has since expanded to Japan and Saudi Arabia, supporting startups advancing sustainable materials, technologies and circular business models. Its inaugural India edition was launched in partnership with Reliance Brands Limited, with the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC), in partnership with the United Nations in India, serving as the exclusive nomination partner. Held as part of the Franco-Indian Year of Innovation 2026, the ceremony connected India’s emerging circular innovation ecosystem with Kering’s international sustainability programme.
Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering, said, “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.
Commenting on the ceremony, Jaspreet Chandhok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, said, “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.”
