Reliance Industries Limited showcases the ‘Reclaim The City’ collection by rkive city, emphasizing sustainability and innovation in fashion at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI 2025.
In a noteworthy event reflecting the push towards sustainability in the fashion industry, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), through its advanced fabric brand R|Elan™, showcased the winning collection of the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC) 2024. Titled “Reclaim The City” by the designer collective rkive city, the presentation unfolded during Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI 2025 at The Atelier, Jio World Convention Centre.
The Circular Design Challenge, in partnership with the United Nations (UN) in India, aims to promote sustainable, recyclable, and waste-reducing practices within the fashion ecosystem. The debut collection presented by rkive city consisted of 36 meticulously curated looks that engaged with themes of memory, revival, and reclamation, all while transforming post-consumer waste into high-fashion statements.
Each piece in the collection was uniquely crafted from salvaged textiles, including reconstructed denim workwear, repurposed leather, and a variety of discarded fabrics. Designers employed neo-manufacturing techniques such as block printing, patchwork, and innovative waste management strategies to breathe new life into materials that might otherwise have been discarded. Reimagined office shirts, which once faced disposal over minor imperfections, were redesigned with fresh patterns, textures, and dyes, emphasizing the artistry behind repair and the possibilities presented by repurposed materials.
The “Reclaim The City” collection extended beyond conventional fashion, articulating a narrative about the urban landscape’s evolution while highlighting the significance of preserving cultural identity. Elements integrated into the garments—such as reconstructed sleeves inspired by uniforms and pockets echoing market workers’ jackets—helped evoke a strong sense of place, history, and memory.
Mr. Hemant D. Sharma, President of Polyester at Reliance Industries Limited, remarked on the significance of the challenge. He stated, “The R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge embodies our commitment to sustainability and circularity in fashion. It is inspiring to see young designers like rkive city harness creativity and innovation to transform waste into extraordinary fashion. At Reliance, we strive to drive change by enabling scalable, circular solutions that reduce the industry’s environmental footprint while redefining design narratives.”
Since its inception in 2018, the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge has established itself as India’s leading sustainable fashion platform, empowering designers to rethink the fashion value chain. Through mentorship, access to the market, and exposure to industry practices, the challenge continues to nurture innovative solutions aimed at waste reduction, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and India’s Mission LiFE initiative.
With its recent expansion into the UK, European Union, and Asia-Pacific regions in 2023, the Circular Design Challenge has further bolstered RIL’s vision of catalyzing global change in the fashion sector. The rkive city collection for 2025 stands as a poignant illustration of the fashion industry’s capability to lessen its environmental impact while simultaneously prioritizing design-driven storytelling, reflecting broader trends within fashion towards sustainability and circularity.
Source: Noah Wire Services
