H&M Foundation awards 10 innovations a total of € 2 million grant to enable a planet positive industry by accelerating and supporting breakthrough innovation to scale and disrupt how fashion is made, seen and worn.
Launched in 2015 as the first innovation challenge of its kind, the Global Change Award is known as the Nobel Prize of fashion.
This year, KBCOLS Sciences from India, is amongst the 10 winners for an invention focusing on bio-fermenting textile dyes with the magic of microorganisms.
Conventional colours are synthetic, and the textile industry’s standard dyeing practices are major contributors to freshwater pollution. KBCOLS is spearheading next-generation dyes, derived from living microorganisms with the potential to shift one of the most critical steps in the entire supply chain and turn it planet positive.
Recyclable and biodegradable polyurethane, food waste polyester, circular dyeing, natural bio-colours, ultra high-performing textiles, seaweed material, AI textile sorting, corn husk and sugarcane fabric, zero waste pattern system, textile-to-textile recycling for polyesters – these are the ten Global Change Award winners 2023, sharing a € 2 million grant from the non-profit H&M Foundation.
Regenerative materials, resources looping in never-ending cycles, and reimagined ways of making and using textiles – the Global Change Award is a global innovation challenge seeking bright minds that can reinvent fashion.
“We have an urgent opportunity to support innovations that could transform the entire fashion industry – that’s why we’re doubling the grant and the number of winners. We’re giving these innovators a total of €2 million and access to our accelerator program – but we’re also giving the industry an opportunity to connect with these brilliant innovators. I’m excited to see the impact these innovators will make on the industry.” – Karl-Johan Persson, H&M Foundation board member.
“There’s a wide range of solutions among this year’s winners. If scaled, I believe they could have a real impact on the industry – which needs a holistic transformation if we are to reach a planet positive fashion future. We look forward to working with the winners during the accelerator and help enable their innovations to accelerate and scale.” – Christiane Dolva, Strategy Lead H&M Foundation.
