Luxury group Kering has signed a new partnership with the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia. At the end of October, the partners jointly launched a Saudi edition of the Kering Generation Award.

The group introduced the Kering Generation Award in 2017 in a bid to find innovations that will help the fashion industry lower its environmental impact. Previous editions of the award have focused on promoting and celebrating innovation in China and Japan.

Working with the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia, part of the ministry of culture, this new edition will seek to promote sustainability and innovation in the fashion industry in Saudi Arabia, aiming “to drive meaningful change and elevate sustainable fashion initiatives”.

As part of the award, Kering has said it will strengthen its commitment to “fostering visionary talent and advancing sustainable solutions that minimise the environmental and social impact of retail and wholesale practices”.

This first Saudi edition of the programme will specifically seek to identify start-ups that Kering believes can have an impact on customer engagement, the circular economy and water protection.

The group’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, said: “We firmly believe that the future of luxury is built on sustainable innovation and on engaging the next generation.

This partnership reflects our commitment to driving meaningful change in the Saudi fashion industry.”

Image shows Kering’s Marie-Claire Daveu and the chief executive of the Fashion Commission of Saudi Arabia, Burak Çakmak.