Real Circularity × Inside Fashion Design

The Circular Fashion Challenge

Can you design for circularity - and make it work in the real world?

Real Circularity has teamed up with Inside Fashion Design to generate this first challenge - to be announced at The Real Circularity Summit 2026.

Sign Up Here Why take part?

The Circular Fashion Challenge is a practical design challenge for fashion designers, small brands, founders and industry professionals who want to build their skills in circular and commercially viable design.

The challenge

Rather than designing the "most sustainable" product, you'll be challenged to balance the things fashion businesses actually have to work with.

You'll work through a series of challenge prompts designed to stretch your thinking and help you explore how circularity can become part of better fashion products and businesses - not simply an added sustainability claim.

We will be connecting you with our innovators in fibres and really showing you the restrictions - as design and particularly Circular design is not just about a pretty picture.

You will balance

Circular design thinking with real customer, production and commercial constraints.

  • Desirability
  • Customer needs
  • Materials
  • Circular design principles
  • Manufacturing
  • Commercial constraints
  • Business models
  • Real-world viability

Why take part?

Whether you are an independent designer, working inside a fashion business or building a brand of your own, the challenge is an opportunity to:

Whether you are an independent designer, working inside a fashion business or building a brand of your own, the challenge is an opportunity to learn by doing.

Build practical circular design skills Apply circular principles to realistic commercial design decisions rather than purely theoretical exercises.
Strengthen your portfolio and professional practice Develop a concept that demonstrates systems thinking, commercial awareness and your ability to design within constraints.
Test ideas for your own business with us Small brands can explore new products, materials, services or business models without needing to have all the answers first.
Learn beyond materials Explore how customer behaviour, repair, longevity, manufacturing, revenue models and end-of-use systems influence design.

Recognition

We are not looking for one perfect answer.

The Circular Fashion Challenge is designed to recognise strong ideas across different areas - from commercial innovation and circular thinking to customer relevance and creative problem solving.

Selected concepts may be showcased through Real Circularity LIVE and connected with relevant material innovators, manufacturers, specialists and collaborators from our wider ecosystem.

Outstanding concepts will have the opportunity to be recognised and showcased through Real Circularity, with the challenge forming part of the journey towards the Real Circularity Awards launching in 2027.

Who is it for?

The challenge is open to fashion people who want to build practical circularity skills.

You don't need to be a circularity expert already. The point is to learn by doing.

  • Professional fashion and textile designers
  • Designers working within brands
  • Independent designers and freelancers
  • Small and emerging fashion businesses
  • Founders developing new apparel concepts
  • Fashion professionals wanting to build practical circularity skills

Brought to you by

Rachel Sheila Kan and Britta Cabanos.

The Circular Fashion Challenge is being developed in partnership between Real Circularity and Inside Fashion Design.

Rachel Sheila Kan
Real Circularity

Rachel Sheila Kan

Rachel Sheila Kan is a changemaker, speaker, author, educator and business developer in the circular and regenerative domain of fashion.

Her work is focused on defining the future of circularity in fashion and beyond, with an inter-industry approach that connects design, business, education, innovation and collaboration.

Meet Rachel
Britta Cabanos
Inside Fashion Design

Britta Cabanos

Britta Cabanos is the Founder and Director of Inside Fashion Design and The Conscious Fashion Design Academy, supporting apparel designers with community, education and development opportunities.

With more than 30 years in fashion and design leadership experience including Nike, Oakley and Perry Ellis, Britta's work focuses on helping independent designers feel seen, supported and equipped to build conscious creative lives.

Britta on LinkedIn
Real Circularity Inside Fashion Design

Join the first Circular Fashion Challenge

Register your interest to receive the first challenge information, participation details and updates as the programme develops.

Sign Up Here

Data & communications

The Circular Fashion Challenge is being developed in partnership between Real Circularity and Inside Fashion Design.

By registering, you agree that the information you provide, including your email address, may be shared between Real Circularity and Inside Fashion Design for the purpose of administering the Circular Fashion Challenge and sending you relevant information about the challenge.

Where you separately consent to receive wider marketing or community communications, your details may also be used in accordance with the respective privacy policies of Real Circularity and Inside Fashion Design.