Editor’s Note
This article highlights the Kering Generation Award, an initiative launched in 2018 to foster sustainable innovation in fashion by supporting startups. It showcases how the program connects emerging talent with the luxury sector to drive ethical and environmental progress.
Since 2018, hundreds of startups have participated in various editions of the Kering Generation Award. Discover the list of winners and how their projects support sustainable development and innovation to shape the Luxury of tomorrow.
In December 2018, Kering launched the Kering Generation Award to create synergies between different sectors and enable future generations to develop innovations for sustainable and ethical fashion, particularly those with positive environmental and social impact in terms of alternative raw materials, “green” supply chains, reinventing customer engagement, and the circular economy.
In partnership with the accelerator Plug and Play, the initiative is now in its fourth edition in China and has expanded to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the global jewelry sector.
Hundreds of entrepreneurs and startups have already joined the program. Discover the list of winners and how their projects support sustainable development and innovation to shape the Luxury of tomorrow.
Award ceremony held in Shanghai during Fashion Week.
Theme: “Supply Chain Challenges,” particularly related to chemicals and water in the production process.
Winners:
#1 – Melephant: Development of natural dyes from organic waste through a zero-waste circular system.
#2 – Heyuan: Innovative proprietary water treatment technology for printing and dyeing.
#3 – FeiLiu Tech: Development of an AI-based process to optimize the supply chain by producing adjusted quantities, thus avoiding overproduction.
The award ceremony was held during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Theme: “Biodiversity and Beyond,” addressing challenges related to the restoration and conservation of biodiversity within the fashion sector.
Winners:
#1 – Peelsphere: Creation of an innovative material from renewable waste from algae, plants, and fruits.
#2 – OTEX: Work on soil health and cultivation processes.
#3 – Zeno Technology: From dye production to printing, development of an innovative solution covering the entire process using next-generation biotechnology.
Theme: “Circularity,” development of a circular business model based on the “5 R” method (revalorization, reuse, recycling, regeneration, and reward).
Winners:
#1 – Yi Design: Revalorization of valuable ceramic scraps throughout its supply chain to give new life to non-recyclable ceramic fragments.
#2 – PhaBuilder: Development of advanced synthetic biotechnology to create innovative materials like PHA from non-food biomass waste.
#3 – Cobbler’s Suggest: Adoption of an innovative after-sales service business model, combining digital tools and craftsmanship for leather repair.
Award ceremony held in Tokyo.
The Kering Generation Award X Japan was launched in 2024 in partnership with the global innovation platform CIC Institute. For this first Japanese edition, Kering commissioned Yi Design, the winner of the third Chinese edition of the Kering Generation Award, to create the trophy, made from recycled ceramic fragments and 3D printed.
Theme: “Sustainable Fashion and Beauty,” managing key stages of a product’s lifecycle (alternative raw materials, manufacturing, retail, and customer engagement).
This edition focused on two areas: alternative raw materials and manufacturing processes on one hand, and retail and consumer engagement on the other.
Winners:
#1 – Fermenstation Co., Ltd.: Development of fermentation technology that transforms food waste into natural aromatic essences without extracting new resources, thus promoting the circular economy.
#2 – AMPHICO: Development of innovative, breathable, waterproof textiles without PFAS, compliant with US and EU regulations, and using its unique dyeing algorithm to generate over 1,000 colors from six yarns, potentially reducing the environmental impact of textile dyeing.
#3 – Algal Bio: Japanese bio-venture specializing in health, beauty, and fashion, leveraging the natural assets and pigments of endemic marine algae to create products with anti-aging, moisturizing, and UV protection properties.
Award ceremony held in Riyadh.
Launched in 2024 in partnership with the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the Kering Generation Award X Saudi Arabia is committed to fostering sustainable change in the Kingdom’s nascent fashion sector by highlighting more responsible practices and supporting cutting-edge initiatives.
Theme: Search keywords: sustainable jewelry supply practices.