Kolon FnC "ESG Fashion Tournament 'Fashion Impact Challenge' Successfully Concluded"

Discussion on Value Creation Solutions in the Fashion Ecosystem
'Guaranteeing the Right to Wear for People with Physical Disabilities' Idea Award

Kolon FnC announced on the 14th that it successfully concluded the 1st 'Fashion Impact Challenge,' a tournament discussing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) fashion solutions.

The Selectable team, winner of the Fashion Impact Challenge Grand Prize, is presenting during a discussion.
[Photo by Kolon FnC]

The Fashion Impact Challenge is a tournament-style competition discussing solutions to create new value in the fashion ecosystem, and it is the first event of its kind conducted by a fashion company in Korea, organized by Kolon FnC.

This challenge was held under the theme "Kolon FnC's Unique ESG Fashion Solution Respecting Taste (Change Ideas, Keep your Taste)," inviting university and graduate students across Korea who have solutions that allow everyone to consume and enjoy sustainable fashion without giving up their personal taste.

From September 18 to October 13, over 100 teams (each consisting of 4 members) applied over a four-week period. After a fierce competition with a 6:1 ratio, 16 teams advanced to the preliminary round. Subsequently, the 16 participating teams received ESG fashion special lectures and solution incubating education provided by Kolon FnC for about a month to qualify for the quarterfinals (top 8).

Through this process, four teams (GameJungDok, TWICE, Selectable, FUNGCHA) reached the final stage. Before the finals, the semifinalists received one-on-one close mentoring to further refine their ideas. After an intense discussion lasting over an hour, the grand prize was awarded to the 'Selectable' team. The Selectable team proposed an innovative solution by adding an 'adaptive' option to clothing to guarantee the right to dress for people with physical disabilities, securing first place. The grand prize-winning team, which proposed an excellent ESG fashion solution, received a prize of 4 million KRW, the Kolon FnC CEO Award, and the opportunity to advance directly to the final interview stage starting from the second half of this year's open recruitment for new and experienced employees.

On the day of the event, alongside the 'Fashion Impact Challenge' finals, an ESG fashion keynote session with invited speakers was also held. The panel talk featured Wang Jongmi, CEO of the sustainable brand Pleats Mama, and Park Jungyeol, CEO of the global social brand Jerrybag, who participated in a Q&A session on ESG fashion.

Yoo Dongju, Director of the ESG Impact Office at Kolon FnC, stated, "We will not simply receive idea submissions but provide participants with opportunities to develop their capabilities to grow into talents who can lead the future of ESG fashion." He added, "We will continue to gather diverse participants and ideas to establish this as Asia's representative fashion solution competition."