Kering Generation Award India: Paiwand Studio Wins

Kering and Reliance Brands Limited recognised circular fashion startups at the Embassy of France in New Delhi, with €50,000 going to Paiwand Studio

Paiwand Studio, Without® and A Blunt Story have been named the winners of the inaugural Kering Generation Award India. Kering, the luxury group behind Gucci, Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta, announced the results with Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) at the Embassy of France in New Delhi on October 14, 2026.

The first India edition is built around circularity for fashion and luxury, and it recognises startups whose circular initiatives have a direct impact on resource protection and the future of fashion.

The winners came out of an initial group of ten shortlisted innovators, narrowed down to six finalists: A Blunt Story, Cancelled Plans, Golden Feathers, MaLeeMa Eco Weaves, Paiwand Studio and Without®. The finalists presented their work to a jury drawn from fashion, luxury, sustainability and international development.

The Three Winners

The three winning startups take quite different routes to circular innovation, resource protection and sustainable materials.

Paiwand Studio Founder: Ashita Singhal A circular textile studio that turns pre-consumer garment waste into new handloom fabrics and embroidery, bringing traditional craft into contemporary circular design.

Without® Founder: Anish Malpani A deep-tech recycling venture that takes difficult-to-use waste and turns it into high-performance textiles and materials, opening up new possibilities for resource recovery and circular applications.

A Blunt Story Founder: Chandni Batra A material innovation company that turns waste into next-generation footwear components and explores alternatives to conventional footwear production.

Kering Generation Award India winner with the trophy, photo 1

Kering Generation Award India winner with the trophy, photo 2

Kering Generation Award India winner with the trophy, photo 3

The winners of the inaugural Kering Generation Award India with their trophies

Prize and the Europe Trip

Paiwand Studio, the first-prize winner, receives €50,000. All three winners will also be invited by Kering on a fully funded, 10-day visit to Europe, a chance to engage with the global luxury and sustainability ecosystem.

The Jury

The winners were chosen by a jury that mixed fashion, business, journalism and development. Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering, sat on the panel along with the names below. Two members, Pascal Morand and Radhika Raje Gaekwad, joined virtually.

Jury Members

Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer, 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
Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Women Empowerment Ambassador, CNMI and Founder, ARA LUMIERE
Pascal Morand, Executive President, Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), the governing body of French fashion (joined virtually)
Radhika Raje Gaekwad, Maharani of Baroda and a prominent custodian of India’s royal heritage and cultural traditions (joined virtually)

From China to India: Where the Award Comes From

The Kering Generation Award was first launched in China in 2018 and has since expanded to Japan and Saudi Arabia, supporting startups working on sustainable materials, technologies and circular business models.

The India edition was launched in partnership with RBL, and the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC), in partnership with the United Nations in India, served as the exclusive nomination partner. The ceremony was held as part of the Franco-Indian Year of Innovation 2026 and connected India’s emerging circular innovation ecosystem with Kering’s international sustainability programme.

What Kering and RBL 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.” — Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering

“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.” — Jaspreet Chandhok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited

Award at a Glance

AwardKering Generation Award India (inaugural edition)

Date & VenueOctober 14, 2026, Embassy of France, New Delhi

ThemeCircularity for fashion and luxury

WinnersPaiwand Studio, Without®, A Blunt Story

First Prize€50,000 to Paiwand Studio

Also for WinnersFully funded 10-day visit to Europe, invited by Kering

PartnersKering and Reliance Brands Limited; R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (in partnership with the United Nations in India) as exclusive nomination partner

Part OfFranco-Indian Year of Innovation 2026

About Kering

Kering is a global, family-led luxury group whose Houses span couture and ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry and eyewear: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin and Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear. Its signature is “Creativity is our Legacy.” In 2025, Kering employed 44,000 people and generated revenue of €14.7 billion.

About the Kering Generation Award

In 2017, as part of its sustainability strategy, Kering joined the “Plug and Play – Fashion for Good” accelerator to identify more sustainable and innovative materials and processes in Europe. In 2018, in partnership with Plug and Play China, Kering launched the first edition of the Award to support Chinese startups with a positive environmental and social impact. It has since been launched in Japan, and then in Saudi Arabia with the support of the Fashion Commission.

About Reliance Brands Limited

Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), a subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL), was established in 2007 to launch, scale and nurture global fashion and lifestyle brands in India across the luxury to premium spectrum. RBL currently operates over 1,855 doors across India, including standalone stores and shop-in-shops. Besides international brand partnerships, it has invested in leading Indian designer labels and made key global acquisitions, including Hamleys, the world’s oldest toy retailer, now operating across 12 countries with over 175 stores globally.