Tackling Textile Waste from Common to Complex
Hong KongJune 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Since 2007, Redress, an Asia-focused environmental NGO dedicated to reducing the negative impact of clothing on the environment, has announced the eight finalists of the Redress Design Award 2026, emerging sustainable fashion designers. Selected from hundreds of global applicants for their outstanding designs, they represent seven regions across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, showcasing diverse circular design solutions for common and complex textile waste, including factory leftovers, clothing waste, and furniture waste. They will present their collections at the globally anticipated final fashion show in Hong Kong in September 2026, offering practical solutions to the escalating global textile waste crisis.
The Redress Design Award, supported by the principal sponsor, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, is the world’s leading sustainable fashion design competition, aiming to showcase, educate, and empower designers. Past participants have come from over 40 regions worldwide.
The waste problem in the fashion industry and the solutions needed are critical: It is estimated that the fashion industry generates approximately 92 million tons of textile waste annually.[1] However, the global textile industry’s circularity rate is only 0.3%.[2]
Waste Takes Center Stage—Designers from Seven Regions on the Global Stage
The finalists, representing Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, were selected for their unique circular design talents in handling multiple waste streams:
- Post-consumer/Deadstock Surplus: Zhuo Zihua (Hong Kong, China) and Tang Junle (Hong Kong, China) transform second-hand clothing, damaged textiles, deadstock, and industrial waste through reconstruction and upcycling techniques.
- Factory Closure/Industrial Surplus: Alexandra Burch (UK) gives new life to defective and recycled blankets. Tal Zohar (Israel) repurposes recycled fibers, discarded leather scraps, second-hand hardware, and factory surplus yarn, including wool yarn cones donated from a closed factory.
- Non-Clothing Waste: Jon Liesenfeld (Germany) transforms defective leather, vintage furniture leather, and surplus military canvas. Hui Xuan Shi (UK/Taiwan, China) combines stock knit fabric with recycled rattan, brass, and plywood waste.
- Innovative Materials: David Schuch (Austria) develops biodegradable fruit leather and ethical non-animal wool, reimagining raw material creation for circular fashion. Ding Yi (Mainland China) uses engineered knitting with recyclable polyurethane yarn to create fully zero-waste knitwear.
Dr. Christina Dean, Founder and Chair of Redress and Judge, stated: “Globally, the regulatory hammer is falling on the polluting fashion industry. Despite the complexity, the industry urgently calls for circular design solutions. The circular fashion designer finalists of the Redress Design Award are the models of the future.”
Tailored Awards for Top Talent
The finalists will compete for the exciting grand prize sponsored by Simple Approach, a global garment manufacturer and supply chain management company. The winner will receive an exclusive trip to the UK, engaging with leaders in sustainable fashion through curated studio visits, industry introductions, and behind-the-scenes experiences, gaining deep insights into responsible fashion design, development, and manufacturing. This unique opportunity will be tailored to the winner’s career goals, offering international exposure, industry mentorship, and valuable hands-on experience in the sustainable fashion industry.
Rachel Franklin, Sustainability Director at Simple Approach and Judge, shared: “While the fashion industry is celebrated for its creativity, the reality is that it is a highly complex sector where change requires time, commitment, and strong leadership. As a leading global garment manufacturer and supply chain management company, Simple Approach produces millions of garments annually across multiple Asian countries. Upcoming fashion industry regulations will have a profound impact on fashion design, sourcing, and production.”
Coming Soon: Public Vote for the ‘People’s Choice Award’
The finalists now need to bring their collections to life, which will be shipped by our returning Gold Sponsor, DHL Express, using its GoGreen Plus service, dedicated to reducing carbon emissions, underscoring our commitment to minimizing environmental impact.
In August this year, Redress will invite the global public to vote for the ‘People’s Choice Award,’ highlighting the role everyday consumers play in addressing the growing fashion waste crisis. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the final in Hong Kong in September, broadcast live to a global audience.