The next wave of sustainable innovation in Aotearoa’s fashion and textile industry was celebrated last night at Webb’s Auction House in Auckland, as Mindful Fashion New Zealand (MFNZ) announced the 2025 Circular Design Award winners.
Now in its third year, the awards have become a cornerstone of New Zealand’s growing circular fashion movement, spotlighting designers and businesses who are transforming textile waste into opportunity. With more than 90 entries across design and business categories, this year’s finalists presented ideas that challenge the status quo – and prove that circularity can be both beautiful and commercially viable.
“These Awards are about sparking new ideas and collaborations to tackle our country’s textile waste challenges,” said Jacinta FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Mindful Fashion NZ. “This year’s winners prove that circular design is not only possible, but also desirable, scalable, and commercially viable.”
Each day, Aotearoa sends more than 143 tonnes of discarded clothing to landfill – a stark reminder of the need for systemic change. The Circular Design Awards offer a glimpse of what a regenerative fashion future could look like when creativity and sustainability collide.
The 2025 Circular Design Award Winners
Supreme Award: Circular Clothing Innovation
Winner: Kensa Munroe for Deconstructed Heritage
Blending botanical dyes, reclaimed textiles, and zero-waste craftsmanship, Kensa Munroe’s winning collection celebrates heritage and place while setting a new benchmark for artisanal circular design. Judges praised its bold use of materials, wearability, and refined execution — calling it a “resolved design that stood out immediately.”
Circular Accessory Innovation (Sponsored by Webb’s)
Winners: Deonne Schollum & Maryna Lottering for Comfort Bear
A child-centred innovation that transforms discarded commercial textiles into functional backpacks with detachable comfort bears. Inspired by waste streams at their workplace, Apparelmaster, the design was recognised for its emotional resonance and practical circularity, described by judge Ngahuia Williams as “a beautiful idea birthed by mothers to support their children.”
Circular Business Innovation (Sponsored by Untouched World)
Winner: LofTurning undervalued strong wool into regenerative, high-performance products, Lof stood out for its systemic approach and deep material integrity. Designed for disassembly and compostability, Lof’s work closes the loop from fibre to soil while championing fair pay and local manufacturing. Judges commended its balance of elegance and practicality, with journalist Lucianne Tonti noting its “thoughtful elegance, durability, and regenerative outcomes.”
Judges’ Reflections: A Future Built on Collaboration and Purpose
The judging panel, which included leaders such as Dan Ahwa, Dayne Johnston (Kowtow), Lucianne Tonti, and Ainsley Simpson (Seamless Australia), commended not only the winners but the overall calibre of entries.
“The innovation was inspiring — great to see lateral thinking,” said Peri Drysdale, CEO of Untouched World. “Circularity must go beyond a buzzword; this year’s entries showed what true change can look like when creativity meets commitment.”
Ahwa echoed the sentiment, describing the Awards as “an essential part of keeping engagement alive — not just around textile waste, but around authentic collaboration within the industry.”
About the Awards
The Circular Design Awards celebrate innovation and leadership in circular and sustainable business practices across New Zealand’s fashion and textile sector. Led by Mindful Fashion NZ, the Awards are part of the organisation’s mission to build a thriving, future-focused fashion ecosystem that values both people and planet.
With a growing network of over 120 businesses, Mindful Fashion NZ continues to unite designers, manufacturers, and retailers under a shared vision of a circular, regenerative fashion industry for Aotearoa.
Discover more about the Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards at mindfulfashion.co.nz
