Menswear label Margn by Saurabh Maurya wins R|Elan Circular Design Challenge 2026

Indian menswear brand Margn was named the winner of the eighth season of the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge (RCDC) at the grand finale held at the Embassy of France in New Delhi yesterday. Indian brand Yoshita 1967 was named runner-up.

The event, held under the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, was organised by Reliance Industries Limited brand R|Elan in partnership with the United Nations in India and Lakme Fashion Week. The initiative aims to support emerging circular fashion talent and material innovation.

Margn, founded by Saurabh Maurya, presented a collection combining craftsmanship, material innovation and circularity. Yoshita 1967, founded by Anil Padia, showcased a collection rooted in cultural heritage, artisanal craftsmanship and contemporary design.

The grand jury included UN resident coordinator in India, Stefan Priesner; head of emerging brands initiative at the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), Serge Carreira; head of editorial content at Vogue India, Rochelle Pinto; Pratap founder and creative director, Rajesh Pratap Singh; and creative director Anaita Shroff Adajania.

As the winner, Margn receives a cash prize of 16,000 dollars and the opportunity to present a solo showcase at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) in March 2027 in Mumbai. Yoshita 1967 receives 5,000 dollars and mentorship from sustainable fashion advocate Orsola de Castro.