How Redress Alumni have been rising to the challenge to accelerate fashion’s circularity
15 years of the Redress Design Award isn’t just a milestone—it’s a testament to the designers who’ve turned fashion’s biggest hurdles into their boldest opportunities. This year, as we celebrate ‘Rising to the Challenge’, we’re spotlighting competition alumni like Silvia Acien Parrilla: fashion game-changers who are proving that circular fashion isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.
Discover how the Redress Alumni Network fueled Silvia’s growth, the projects that turned waste into wonder, and why the next 15 years depend on designers like her stepping up.
Can you share a project or collection that directly addresses circular fashion, and what measurable impact it’s had?
My last collection, ‘Freckle’, was a fully biodegradable collection dyed entirely with plants. It incorporated Himalayan nettle sourced from a social enterprise in Nepal, regenerative merino wool from France, organic hemp, lotus flower, and esparto dry branches collected from the Spanish mountains. I showcased this collection with the Circular Design Challenge in partnership with the United Nations shortly after receiving the People’s Choice Award from Redress. Beyond its material innovation, the project created a ripple effect—shifting mindsets in my community about what’s possible: clothing that returns to the earth, water reused in the dye process, plants used for natural colour, and traditional weaving techniques celebrated as a vital part of human heritage and resilient local economies.
How do you balance sustainability with desirability in your designs, and what myths are you working to debunk?
A fair, transparent supply chain inevitably comes at a higher price, and this is something I address in my work daily. The world has been conditioned to expect low-cost, fast-turnaround fashion, but my role as a designer is to demonstrate that slowing down and respecting nature’s cycles results in garments of higher quality, beauty, and meaning. I’m fortunate that many of my clients already value craftsmanship, health, and a slower pace of life. Through my brand, Acien, I aim to show that regenerative fashion is desirable and can also be luxurious, comfortable, and beneficial for the body. I want to destroy the myth that sustainability compromises style—it actually elevates it.
What’s been the most rewarding milestone in your career since Redress, and how did the competition prepare you for it?
The most significant milestone since Redress has been my current project, which is also the most impactful of my career so far. I’ve partnered with the Councillor of Culture in my hometown of El Ejido, Spain, to present my first solo show featuring plant-based materials, natural dyes, and traditional weaving techniques. I’m collaborating with local artisans to preserve and pass on folkloric traditions that are at risk of disappearing, while demonstrating that garments can be non-toxic and even beneficial for the skin. This project has a measurable, local impact—preserving cultural knowledge, supporting artisans, and inspiring a new generation. My experience in the Redress Design Award gave me the confidence to pitch this project, the credibility to bring it to life, and the network to keep building momentum.
What’s a major hurdle you’ve faced in sustainable fashion, and how did Redress help you navigate it?
One of my biggest challenges has been identifying and reaching the right audience—the people who will truly connect with my vision and values. Redress helped me realise that while couture pieces for galleries and museums can spark conversations about regeneration, it’s speaking directly to everyday people that really changes local ecosystems and awareness. This shift in perspective has helped me focus my communication and design approach to connect more deeply with those who can drive change in their own communities.
What’s one design principle from Redress that still guides your approach to waste reduction today?
During my Redress journey, one experience that stayed with me was the zero-waste masterclass at the TAL factory in Vietnam, led by an alumnus. We learned practical strategies for maximising fabric use when pattern cutting. As a knitwear designer, my work is inherently zero-waste, but this opened my eyes to applying the same principles to woven fabrics—something I now integrate into my process whenever possible.
How has the Redress Alumni Network supported your growth as a sustainable fashion designer, and what’s one key opportunity it provided to scale your impact?
Being part of the Redress Design Award has been truly life-changing. What stands out to me is how uniquely the Redress Alumni Network fosters ongoing connections—it doesn’t end when the competition does. Since receiving the People’s Choice Award, I’ve felt constant support through regular check-ins, introductions to industry experts, and opportunities to connect with previous alumni for mentoring. These touchpoints have shown me there is a way forward as a sustainable designer, and that I’m not walking this path alone. A standout opportunity was being paired with Camilla Carrara from Zerobarracento for one-on-one mentorship while developing my latest collection. Her guidance helped me refine both my design approach and my professional confidence.
Looking back at your Redress experience, how has the sustainable fashion conversation evolved—and what role will Redress and its alumni play in the next 15 years?
Since I competed, I’ve seen the sustainable fashion conversation move from the margins into the mainstream. Consumers are now more aware of their impact, but there is still much to do. In the next 15 years, I believe Redress—and its alumni—will continue to lead by example, showing the world that fashion can slow down, respect natural resources, and create meaningful local and global change. Redress has been, and will continue to be, a powerful platform for educating, inspiring, and connecting the next generation of designers who will shape a truly circular industry.