Kering held, according to Journal du Luxe, the first Indian edition of its Kering Generation Award, in partnership with Reliance Brands Limited. The ceremony took place on 13 October at the French embassy in New Delhi, where the group rewarded three companies specialising in circular fashion: Paiwand Studio, Without and A Blunt Story.
Ranked first, Paiwand Studio, founded by Ashita Singhal and based in Noida, turns textile offcuts into hand-woven fabrics by working with weavers, combining reuse and craftsmanship. The company receives a grant of 50,000 euros from Kering. Without, named runner-up, tackles multilayer plastic packaging and mixed textiles. A Blunt Story, ranked third, is developing a plant-based sole material designed as an alternative to conventional footwear components.
The selection relied on the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge, the exclusive nomination partner for this edition. Reliance Brands already develops several international brands in Inde, including Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga, giving Kering's prospecting an Indian anchor.
Support beyond the prize
The three winning companies will benefit from mentoring and a trip to France and Italie to meet Kering's houses, suppliers and teams. Behind the prize, the stakes are industrial: bringing these local innovations closer to luxury's teams and suppliers. After Chine, Japon and the Moyen-Orient, Kering is thus extending its network for spotting young companies to Inde.
The award, however, is only a first step. It is not enough on its own to demonstrate these solutions' ability to meet a luxury house's requirements in terms of quality, cost and volume. The next phase of this effort will be measured by the collaborations actually undertaken between Kering and the Indian start-ups.
