Kering brings Generation Award to India; Paiwand Studio wins first prize

Kering staged the first India edition of its Generation Award on Tuesday, 13 October, at the French Embassy in New Delhi, Vogue reported. The prize backs startups with environmental and social impact across fashion and luxury supply chains.

The winners

• 1st — Paiwand Studio (Noida, founded by Ashita Singhal in 2018): transforms pre-consumer garment waste into new handloom fabric and embroidery. Prize: €50,000.
• 2nd — Without (Pune, Anish Malpani): patented process that turns multi-layer plastic packaging and soiled textiles into materials for eyewear and packaging.
• 3rd — A Blunt Story (Ghaziabad, Chandni Batra): plant-based sole material as an alternative to oil-derived EVA and TPU.

All three startups receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy and France to meet Kering maisons and suppliers, plus access to mentoring and the ChangeNow Summit in Paris in 2027.

Why India

Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s chief sustainability officer, called India “one of the most vibrant ecosystems” for innovation. The award was launched in China in 2018 and has since run in Japan, Saudi Arabia and other markets. India’s nominating partner was Reliance Brands Limited via the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge.

Note: the Vogue reporter was a jury member for this edition; we cite the article for the announced winners and prize terms.