The journey in the direction of a net-zero textile business advances because the H&M Basis has opened nominations for the World Change Award (GCA) 2026 on September 1. The annual innovation problem helps daring changemakers working to reshape trend.
The H&M Basis has opened nominations for the World Change Award (GCA) 2026, in search of early-stage improvements in accountable manufacturing, aware consumption, sustainable supplies, and wildcards.
In partnership with The Mills Fabrica, the award goals to speed up transformative options like bio-based fibres, AI-driven design, and recycling.
Every year, new concepts emerge to remodel how trend 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,” stated Annie Lindmark, programme director for Innovation on the H&M Basis.
For the yr 2026, GCA is in search of early-stage improvements in 4 classes: accountable manufacturing – rethinking how trend is made; aware consumption – redefining how we use and worth trend; sustainable supplies and processes – reinventing fibres and strategies; and wildcards – surprising, transformative concepts with disruptive potential.
Candidates may apply by way of The Mills Fabrica, an official nominator and long-standing GCA associate with hubs in Hong Kong and London. Positioned on the intersection of sustainability, know-how, and textiles, The Mills Fabrica helps floor daring concepts typically neglected by conventional business channels, H&M Basis stated in a launch.
“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, normal supervisor and head of Asia at The Mills Fabrica, explains.
The nomination mannequin has already diversified winner profiles and expanded the award’s world attain. Trying forward, Lindmark expressed pleasure for extra ‘Wildcard’ submissions, whereas GCA’s Cintia highlighted alternatives in bio-based fibres, round supplies, AI-driven design, post-consumer recycling, and robotics for localised, demand-responsive manufacturing.
The 2026 version goals to speed up improvements that may drive systemic change in trend’s sustainability journey, spotlighting changemakers with the braveness to reimagine the business.
“Supporting early-stage innovation is essential because it’s where the seeds of radical transformation begin,” Cintia stated.
“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.
