Kering and Reliance Brands launch 'Kering Generation Award' in India
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French luxury group Kering and Indian retail company Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the Kering Generation Award in India for the first time. The initiative aims to support circular innovation and sustainable fashion initiatives across the region.
The memorandum was signed at Kering headquarters in Paris by Kering chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer Marie-Claire Daveu and RBL group vice president Jaspreet Chandok. Established in 2018 under the company's sustainability initiative ‘Crafting Tomorrow's Luxury’, the award program has previously operated in China, Japan and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
"Expanding the Kering Generation Award to India is a natural and strategic next step in our mission to support visionary impact startups that are shaping the future of luxury," said Daveu in a statement. Daveu added: "India is not only a massive and rapidly growing market for the luxury sector, but also a thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship."
Focus on circularity and resource protection
The inaugural Indian edition will focus on identifying startups developing circular solutions that directly contribute to resource protection. The initiative will partner with the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge, held in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) in India, which will act as the exclusive nominating partner.
The official award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Embassy of France during fashion week in Delhi on October 13, 2026, coinciding with the Franco-Indian Year of Innovation.
Chandok stated: "The future of luxury will be shaped not only by creativity, but by the ability to innovate responsibly. India is home to exceptional talent reimagining materials, technology and circular business models, and this partnership with Kering provides an important global stage for those innovators."
Kering originally created the Kering Generation Award in 2018 in partnership with Plug and Play China to support early-stage ventures delivering environmental and social impacts.