The journey towards a net-zero textile industry advances as the H&M Foundation has opened nominations for the Global Change Award (GCA) 2026 on September 1. The annual innovation challenge supports bold changemakers working to reshape fashion.
Each year, new ideas emerge to transform how fashion is made, used, and valued. “Each new year when the nominations open, so much has happened in the world since the last round; we see new challenges, needs, technological break throughs and opportunities. I’m always curious to see the potential that’s out there, and the new disruptive ideas that passionate changemakers are sitting on right now,” said Annie Lindmark, programme director for Innovation at the H&M Foundation.
For the year 2026, GCA is seeking early-stage innovations in four categories: responsible production – rethinking how fashion is made; mindful consumption – redefining how we use and value fashion; sustainable materials and processes – reinventing fibres and methods; and wildcards – unexpected, transformative ideas with disruptive potential.
Applicants can also apply through The Mills Fabrica, an official nominator and long-standing GCA partner with hubs in Hong Kong and London. Positioned at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and textiles, The Mills Fabrica helps surface bold ideas often overlooked by traditional industry channels, H&M Foundation said in a release.
“We are truly excited to see creative, resilient, and purpose-driven innovators stepping forward – especially those with a deep-rooted commitment to driving impact at scale and a willingness to challenge the status quo,” Cintia Nunes, general manager and head of Asia at The Mills Fabrica, explains.
The nomination model has already diversified winner profiles and expanded the award’s global reach. Looking ahead, Lindmark expressed excitement for more ‘Wildcard’ submissions, while GCA’s Cintia highlighted opportunities in bio-based fibres, circular materials, AI-driven design, post-consumer recycling, and robotics for localised, demand-responsive manufacturing.
The 2026 edition aims to accelerate innovations that can drive systemic change in fashion’s sustainability journey, spotlighting changemakers with the courage to reimagine the industry.
“Supporting early-stage innovation is essential because it’s where the seeds of radical transformation begin,” Cintia said.
“In 10 years, I hope the changemakers we select today will have helped build a textile industry that thrives within planetary boundaries and supports human wellbeing,” Annie concluded.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)
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