Kering Launches Kering Generation Award in India with Reliance Brands
Kering has announced the launch of its Kering Generation Award in India for the first time, in partnership with Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), to support sustainability and circular innovation in the fashion industry. The initiative aims to identify and promote innovative startups developing solutions that can help reduce the environmental and social impact of fashion.
The partnership was formalised at Kering’s headquarters in Paris, where Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering, and Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice-President at Reliance Brands Limited, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring the Kering Generation Award to India.
Inspired by Kering’s sustainability vision, “Crafting Tomorrow’s Luxury”, the award programme has been running since 2018 across markets including China, Japan and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The initiative seeks to identify promising startups and technologies capable of driving positive change across the fashion value chain, from raw materials and production to the end of a product’s life.
The first Indian edition will focus specifically on startups developing circular initiatives with a direct impact on resource protection. The programme will collaborate with the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge, in partnership with the United Nations in India, which will serve as the exclusive nominating partner for the award.
Through the collaboration, Kering and Reliance Brands aim to strengthen support for sustainable fashion innovation in India by connecting emerging entrepreneurs with opportunities to develop solutions that combine environmental responsibility, innovation and commercial potential.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Embassy of France during Fashion Week in Delhi on October 13, 2026. The event will also form part of the Franco-Indian Year of Innovation celebrations.
Marie-Claire Daveu said expanding the Kering Generation Award to India represents a strategic step in the group’s efforts to support startups developing solutions for the future of luxury. She highlighted India’s rapidly growing luxury market and its expanding ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that supporting entrepreneurs working across fashion, beauty and technology could accelerate the development of circular solutions for the industry.
Jaspreet Chandok said the future of luxury would depend not only on creativity but also on responsible innovation. He highlighted India’s growing pool of talent working on new materials, technologies and circular business models and said the partnership would provide these innovators with a global platform.
According to Chandok, the collaboration combines Reliance Brands’ experience in developing fashion ecosystems with Kering’s sustainability expertise. Building on the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge, the partnership aims to support innovations that are both commercially viable and environmentally responsible.
The launch marks a new step in Kering’s global sustainability programme while creating a platform for Indian startups working on circularity, resource efficiency and sustainable fashion to gain greater visibility and support.