Kering launches Kering Generation Award, first time in Japan, identifying innovation in sustainable fashion and beauty

Inspired by the Kering’s vision of Crafting Tomorrow’s Luxury, the award program will identify promising change-making start-ups and technologies in Japan that have the potential to challenge the current value chain, bringing a positive environmental and social impact. Under the theme of “Sustainable Fashion and Beauty," this first edition of the award program will specifically seek to identify start-ups that address the key phases of a product's lifetime: alternative raw materials, product manufacturing, retailing, and consumer engagement.

Applications will open to the public on March 5th through a dedicated webpage.

Following a process of pitching sessions and critical reviews, 10 start-ups will be selected to participate in an intensive support program. An expert jury will select the top 3 finalists who will be presented at the Kering Generation Award ceremony in spring 2025. The first-place winner will receive a monetary prize of ¥10,000,000 to develop its project.

“Expanding the Kering Generation Award to Japan is an exciting next step in our mission to support visionary start-ups focused on climate and nature smart solutions,” said Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer. “We need breakthrough solutions to address many of the luxury, fashion and beauty industry’s biggest sustainability challenges and Kering is convinced that promoting the region’s promising young entrepreneurs at the intersection of fashion & beauty, new technology and innovation will help unlock sustainability transformation.”

“We are honored to announce that CIC will be collaborating in the inaugural Kering Generation Award 2024, the first of its kind in Japan. As the largest innovation hub in Japan, CIC has been dedicated to supporting start-ups and fostering community engagement. In the environmental sector specifically, we have organized multiple support programs and pitch contests, leading to the growth of a community with over 1,000 members and 560 participating companies. This initiative together with Kering presents an excellent opportunity to share our values and commitment to nurturing and supporting environmental start-ups. Furthermore, with Kering, a global leader in luxury hosting this award, we anticipate an acceleration of innovation within Japan's start-up ecosystem.” Tak Umezawa, Chairman in CIC Tokyo
 

Kering’s Sustainability Strategy: “Crafting Tomorrow’s Luxury”

Sustainability was placed at the core of Kering’s strategy over almost 15 years ago, committing to a longer-term, all-round, and authentic sustainability from environment and ecology perspectives. Kering’s Sustainability Strategy incorporates the Group’s Houses and in underpinned by a series of milestone targets across three key pillars: Care, Collaborate and Create.

Six years into the Group’s “Crafting Tomorrow’s Luxury” strategy, Kering published its “2020-2023 Sustainability Progress Report” in March 2023, showcasing key achievements including reduction of its total environmental impacts by 40% in 2021, 4 years ahead of agenda. The Group announced in the meantime a new commitment to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2035, on a 2021 baseline. This new target covering scopes 1, 2 and 3 of the greenhouse gas protocol.

About Kering Generation Award

In 2017, as part of the Group’s sustainability strategy, Kering joined the “Plug and Play – Fashion for Good” accelerator in Europe, scouting innovative solutions across the entire fashion industry chain, as well as thinking about changes from perspectives such as “alternative raw materials to recycling technology” and thereby extending product lifespan.

Aligned with Kering’s vision of “Crafting tomorrow’s luxury”, the “Kering Generation Award” was founded in China in December 2018, aiming to recognize and support Chinese startups that can bring about positive environmental and social impact and address challenges in alternative raw materials, green supply chain, retail & use and the circular economy.
In 2021, the second Kering Generation Award focused on biodiversity and beyond, seeking startups working in the areas of ensuring clean water, building healthy soil, supporting wildlife and animal welfare as well as empowering people with knowledge of the relationship between fashion and nature.

In December 2022, Kering announced the third Kering Generation Award around the theme “Coming Full Circle”, promoting the complete development of the circular economy at every link of the fashion industry. The Award Ceremony was held on 16 October 2023 in Shanghai.

About Kering

A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods and Jewelry: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735 as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its Houses to set new limits in terms of their creative expression while crafting tomorrow’s Luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. We capture these beliefs in our signature: “Empowering Imagination”. In 2023, Kering had over 49,000 employees and revenue of €19.6 billion.

About CIC Tokyo

CIC Tokyo, spanning 6,000 square meters across the 15th and 16th floors of Toranomon Hills Business Tower, is a hub for comfortable shared office space and a beacon of global innovation. Currently housing over 280 companies, it hosts over 200 events annually.
With the aim of fostering the global growth of startups and creating a high-density innovation community where innovators, investors, and companies from around the world converge, CIC Tokyo endeavors to be more than just an "office space." It strives to provide essential support to promising startup ventures when needed, facilitating an environment where innovation thrives continuously.

About CIC Intitute

CIC Institute leverages its expertise in building innovation ecosystems and supporting startups, particularly in the deep tech sector, to collaborate with government bodies, local municipalities, universities, and others. Our team focuses on supporting the growth of startups capable of global success and facilitating ecosystem development. Currently, CIC Institute is engaged in various projects with government agencies and universities, contributing to economic development through ecosystem advancement and innovation. Moving forward, we will continue to execute more projects in response to the increasing demand from government agencies and private enterprises, closely coordinating with CIC, including CIC Tokyo, to promote innovation and foster collaboration.

Contacts
 

 Kering Japan
 

Rie Ubukata rie.ubukata@kering.com 
Eri Tamura eri.tamura@kering.com 

CIC Tokyo

cic-k-generation-award@cic.com