This is GCA
The Global Change Award (GCA) is an innovation challenge initiated by H&M Foundation. Our mission is to accelerate early-stage innovation to support the textile industry in halving its greenhouse gas emissions every decade, reaching net-zero by 2050.
The H&M Foundation launched the Global Change Award – called The Nobel Prize of Fashion – as the first innovation challenge of its kind in 2015. Since then, 56 innovations have received support and a combined grant of €10 million.
Every year, we back ten brilliant changemakers with a €200,000 grant and support them in turning their bold ideas into impactful innovations through a one-year Changemaker Programme. We equip our winners with textile industry knowledge, tools, connections, and a holistic mindset – to promote solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
Big ideas start small – we’re here to back them
Every innovation has a journey – and the earliest steps are often the hardest to take. That’s when funding is scarce, networks are limited, and the road ahead can feel uncertain. GCA backs changemakers at this critical point, offering the support, resources and encouragement they need to move forward. And once an idea is validated, others – from accelerators to brands and investors – play a key role in scaling it up.
The innovations we’re looking for
We support early-stage innovation across four areas in the textile industry. These areas are based on our mapping into greenhouse gas emissions across the textile value chain – combined with insights from systems thinking, which shows how complex and interconnected the industry’s challenges really are.
Sustainable materials and processes
Reimagining the fibres and methods we use – from low-energy materials and next-gen fibres to improved dyeing, finishing, and manufacturing processes.
Responsible production
Rethinking how things are made – from smarter design and prediction modelling to energy efficiency, on-demand production and zero-waste systems.
Mindful consumption
Changing how we use and value fashion – with ideas that extend garment lifecycles, reshape demand, or enable circular business models and recycling.
Wildcards
Bold, unexpected or cross-cutting ideas we haven’t even thought of yet – that can spark transformation across the system.
Rewiring the system for innovation to thrive
The textile industry is a deeply interconnected system and no single innovation will fix it. We equip changemakers with the tools and mindset to see the bigger picture, challenge the root causes of the industry’s problems and to think beyond their own solution and explore how it fits into – and can influence – the broader system. We also work to actively influence the system itself by:
- Fostering a global network of changemakers, experts and industry players
- Promoting narrative change to inspire and influence the wider sector
- Working across silos to bring together brands, suppliers, researchers and policymakers
- Keeping people and planet at the centre of every solution
The GCA Playbook
Curious to learn even more about the Global Change Award? Deep-dive into our Playbook!
Yearly timeline
Nominations open
Oct 21, 2024 — Nov 15, 2024
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Nominee applications open
Nov 13, 2024 — Dec 13 2024
Winner announcement
May 2025
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Changemaker programme
May 2025
Award ceremony
October 2025
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