Zero Waste Challenge 2026
Turn Your Waste Into Worth
#zerowasteMEET THE JUDGES
Aakanksha Rao
A circular fashion strategist and designer focused on transforming the textile industry. A member of the Global Fashion Agenda’s 2026 Next Gen Assembly, she works at the forefront of sustainability advocacy. She is Program Manager for the Slow Fashion Movement’s Learning Lab, co-designing a circular, traceable future. A Gold Medallist in Fashion and Apparel Design, her work bridges technical construction with regenerative supply chains, informed by experience with Nundle Woollen Mill in Australia and India’s handloom traditions.
Bridgett Artise
Founder of Born Again Vintage and Sustainable Fashion Week US, championing sustainability as accessible as fast fashion. A published author and professor at FIT, she also teaches at VOGUE College of Fashion. Recognized by The New York Times as a Vintage Expert and awarded the Global Sustainability Award by GCPIT, her work has been featured in Nylon, Harper’s Bazaar, and Teen Vogue. She has consulted for organizations like Housing Works and the Urban League, and lectures globally on sustainable fashion.
Dr. Connie Ulasewicz
Professor Emerita of Apparel Design and Merchandising at San Francisco State University and Founder of CBU Productions. A community-engaged speaker, researcher, and writer, she works with businesses, government, and educational organizations to advance sustainable fashion solutions. Her career spans global manufacturing, production, consulting, and education. She is a member of ESRAP and STRAC, and coauthor of Sustainable Fashion (3rd edition, 2022). She holds degrees from Syracuse University, University of Maryland, and Fielding Graduate University.
CONTEST RULES
Eligibility
- Worldwide; ages 18+.
- Not eligible: Upcyclers employees, contractors, affiliates, sponsors, and their immediate family members.
- No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
How To Enter
- Post or list your zero waste upcycled creation with #zerowaste during the challenge period.
- Only new entries submitted during the challenge period qualify.
- Older posts or listings do not automatically count.
- Entry window: April 15 to June 26, 2026, PST.
Prizes
- Grand Prize: USD $500.
- Paid by PayPal or bank transfer within 14 days of winner confirmation.
- The prize is non-transferable. The winner is responsible for any fees or taxes.
Judging
- The Top 5 eligible entries with the most likes by June 26, 2026 advance to the finals, one finalist per person.
- Judges’ scores: Creativity 40%, Craftsmanship 30%, Sustainability 20%, Storytelling 10%.
- Tie breaker: higher Creativity score wins.