CTF Award

CTF 2024 introduces a significant evolution with the relaunch of the CTF Award, a talent competition challenging designers to create looks made from man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF). The competition is designed as a way to promote and encourage a switch to biobased and/or recycled materials.

Open to emerging designers in business for up to three years, the CTF Award will recognize the innovative use of MMCF fabrics and textiles, with the winner selected by a jury of industry professionals.

The recipient of the CTF Award will be awarded a prize of $10,000 during the event in Milan on May 14.

 

Applications for CTF Award are now closed

CTF 2024 introduces a significant evolution with the relaunch of the CTF Award, a talent competition challenging designers to create looks made from man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF). The competition is designed as a way to promote and encourage a switch to biobased and/or recycled materials.

Open to emerging designers in business for up to three years, the CTF Award will recognize the innovative use of MMCF fabrics and textiles.

A selected group of finalists will be present during the event in Milan and showcase their creations as part of an exhibition taking place during the two-day event. The winner of the CTF Award will be selected by a jury of industry professionals and receive a cash prize of $10,000.

How to apply:

To apply, you must have been producing commercially available apparel for a maximum of three years (at the time of submitting an application). You should have consistent experience working with and promoting best practices across apparel supply chains and demonstrate innovative use of fabrics and textiles.

What to include in your CTF Award application


    • Brand Overview
    • Lookbook & Portfolio
    • Logo and Portrait
    • Current stockists
    • Reason for applying
    • Experience working with MMCF materials
 

Deadline to apply: Applications for CTF Award are now closed.

How it works

A group of  finalists will be challenged to create one look out of MMCF material, showing innovative use of the fabric. Each finalist  will be sent material from a selected CTF innovation partner working within the MMCF field.

CTF Award innovation partners for 2024 include Södra OnceMore®, Renewcell in partnership with Impetus, Nanollose, Circ and Birla.

All finalists will be asked to showcase their look as part of an exhibition during CTF 2024, taking place in Milan on May 14th and 15th. The winner will be presented during an event on May 14 and will win a cash prize of 10,000 USD.

REGISTER - CTF 24

Challenge the Fabric 2024 will take place on May 14 – 15, in Milan

Cancellation/no show policy
If you have registered for the Symposium on May 15th but are no longer able to attend, we kindly ask you to notify us no later than 14 days prior to the event. Please notify us via email at ctf@ekmangroup.com

REGISTER - CTF Award

Application form – CTF Award 2024

If any questions, don´t hesitate to contact: info@swedishfashionconcil.se

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AGENDA - CTF 2023

Tuesday 9th May

18:00 - 20:00

Welcome Mingle

Wednesday 10th May

09:00

Registration

09:30

Introduction and welcome

09:45

The opportunity of Green Textiles

Keynote speaker

Jonatan Janmark | Partner, McKinsey & Co

10:05

Sustainable Forestry

Keynote speaker

Valerie Langer | Fibre Solutions Strategist, Canopy

10:20

Forest to fabrics; the importance of sustainable forest practices

This panel discusses the importance of sustainable forest management. Topics
that will be discussed are centered around how sustainable forestry
management is defined, how farmers work with their forests to ensure and
protect the biodiversity, regeneration capacity and reforestation. The panel will
also discuss what sustainable forest management mean for different regions of
the world as well as how it influences sourcing strategies and the demands on
raw material suppliers.

Keynote speaker

Diana Tuomasjukka | Head of the Bioeconomy Programme, European Forest Institute

10:35

Break

11:05

Moderator

Oliver Lansdell | Director, Pulp and Paper, Hawkins Wright

Panel

Johannes Bogren | Vice President, Södra Cell Bioproducts

Anna Palmberg | Material & Innovation Developer, IKEA of Sweden

Surya Valluri | Chief Sustainability Officer, Birla Cellulose

Sofia Jorge I Board Member, Sustainability, Risk, Communication, People & Talent, Altri SGPS

11:50

Legislation, Policy, and Traceability

Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in legislation related to sustainability in textiles. For example, the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles will require the use of more sustainable and recycled materials as well as identification through the Digital Project Passport (DPP). Organizations such as the Textile Exchange are supporting the industry by developing standards to classify preferred materials. Also new startups are focusing on helping brands achieve visibility on their supply chains. How can fashion brands and suppliers alike navigate this new landscape? What role can stakeholders like innovators, NGO’s and industry organizations play? What is required to educate and disseminate knowledge on legislation, policy, and traceability? This panel will explore these important topics.

Moderator

Christine Goulay | Founder, Sustainabelle

12:05 – Panel

Amit Gautam | CEO & Co-founder, Textile Genesis

Sara Mariani | Chief Sustainability Officer, OTB

Claudia De Witte | Sustainability Leader, Textiles, Eastman

12:45

Lunch

14:15

Committing to the future of Next Generation Solutions

This panel discusses the collective commitment at COP27 by brands such as Kering, H&M, Inditex to purchase over half a million tonnes of fibres stemming from Next Generation Solutions. The panel will address what this commitment means for the innovators in terms of the need for scaling, investments and partnerships and the potential challenges of reaching the scale needed.

Keynote speaker

Dolly Vellanki | Innovation Associate, Fashion for Good

Moderator

Brooke Roberts-Islam | Founder, Techstyler; Senior Contributor, Forbes.

14:30 – Panel

Jenny Fredricsdotter | Circular Business Manager, Re:newcell

Erik Karlsson | VC/Impact Investor, H&M CO: Lab

Julia Viner | Investment Associate, Fashion, Closed Loop Partners

Peter Majeranowski | CEO & Co-Founder, Circ

15:15

Break

15:45

Shaping the path forward

This panel will focus on how we can shape the path towards fashion’s sustainable future and highlight the possibilities within the MMCF field. It will discuss the importance of cross industry collaborations and how we can create long lasting change by engaging different stake holders from different industries. What can we learn from the development of other fibre categories or other industries? What will be critical to continue to grow in an innovative and sustainable way?

Keynote speaker

Andrea Rosso | Sustainability Ambassador, Diesel

Moderator

Bella Webb | Sustainability Editor, Vogue Business

16:00 – Panel

Amanda Parkes | Chief Innovation Officer, Pangaia

Dr. Shahriare Mahmood | Chief Sustainability Officer, Spinnova

Christina Iskov | Head of Innovation & Academy, Global Fashion Agenda

Malva Carlsson

16:40

Conclusion | Nina Elmersson – VP Innovare, Ekman

16:45

Cocktail