/ -- This year - the fashion industry saw a new perspective on what sustainable fashion means at Lakm Fashion Week. Delegates at Sustainable Fashion Day - Lakm Fashion Week witnessed India's first investor showcase for circular & sustainable fashion enterprises on Sustainable Fashion Day, 22nd of August. The Circular Changemaker's Showcase was organized by Intellecap's Circular Apparel Innovation Factory, an industry-led platform launched in partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail and The DOEN Foundation to drive a circular apparel & textile economy in India, along with the Circular Design Challenge of IMG Reliance and its partners R Elan and UN Environment.
The program - Circular Changemakers - was launched in June 2019, and received over 70 applications from across 21 cities in India. After going through a review by a selection committee and a three-day investment readiness bootcamp, six enterprises pitched their solution to a high-level investor panel, comprising of investment funds and business enablers such as Aavishkaar, Asha Impact, Fashion for Good, UN Environment, and corporates such as Mahindra Retail, and H&M Co:Lab. The innovators include:
Stefanie Bauer-Vemuri, Director, Circular Apparel Innovation Factory: "The enterprises showcased at Lakm Fashion Week highlight the variety of innovations that are emerging in India in the sustainable fashion space - from fibres to end-of-use and recycling solutions, all with the potential to make a difference in India's textile and apparel industry. We are excited to see such a positive response in the industry to join this first ever investor showcase, and are committed to organize more such events in the future that bring the ecosystem together on one platform."
Vineet Rai, Founder, The Aavishkaar Group: "We at the Aavishkaar Group pioneered the idea of impact driven sustainable investing in India, Africa, and South East Asia. As we look at the textile sector, and specially the apparel sector from the lens of circular economy and sustainability, we see the need for innovative ideas and startups to nurture these innovators, we need a flourishing ecosystem in addition to capital. Through Intellecap and CAIF, we hope to contribute to this process and see transformation sweeping through the Indian apparel industry."
About Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF):
About Intellecap:
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