What if waste could power the future of fashion? That’s the question driving Sci-Lume Labs, the 2025 recipient of the CFDA x Swarovski Foundation Re:Generation Innovation Fund. Founded by Oliver Shafaat, the company is rethinking material innovation through Bylon, a next-generation bio-based and biodegradable fiber made from recycled agricultural waste, and designed to replace conventional synthetics like nylon.

As this year’s grantee, Sci-Lume Labs will receive a $30,000 grant, six months of tailored mentorship, and access to a global network of industry leaders. The vision for scalable circularity reflects the Fund’s mission to support the next generation of innovative changemakers in fashion.

The 2025 CFDA x Swarovski Foundation Re:Generation Innovation Fund builds on the success of the Re:Generation Innovation Scholar Award, originally launched in 2021 to support student designers pushing the boundaries of fashion. Now evolved into a grant and mentorship programme for early-stage businesses, the Fund is designed to help founders kickstart their ventures, advance their missions, and connect with mentors and community to move fashion toward a more innovative future.

The 2025 recipient was selected through a thoughtful process led by a committee of industry leaders across fashion, materials innovation, and sustainability. The Re:Generation Innovation Fund Selection Committee included Uyen Tran (TOMTEX), El Lewis (O.STUDIO DESIGN),Gretchen Valade (Carhartt), Mi Jong Lee (Emmelle Design), Lucy Murphy (OEKO-TEX), Dana Davis (Dana Davis Consulting), and Leighton McDonald (Under Armour), with participation from representatives of the CFDA and the Swarovski Foundation throughout. Finalists were invited to participate in virtual interviews, providing additional insights to support the committee’s final selection.

Jakhya Rahman-Corey, Director of the Swarovski Foundation shared:

“As we approach 2030, the urgency to reimagine how industries like fashion operate has never been clearer. Many textiles still rely on petrochemicals, fuelling micro plastic pollution and environmental degradation. At the Swarovski Foundation, we are committed to advancing creative talent to promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce inequalities. Sci-Lume Labs’ development of Bylon®—a circular fiber made from agricultural waste and scalable through existing infrastructure— is the type of innovation the fashion industry needs. Through initiatives like the Re:Generation Innovation Fund, we are proud to champion solutions that bring us closer to a more responsible and regenerative future.”

Sci-Lume Labs will present its work during the CFDA x Swarovski Foundation showcase where innovation and impact take center stage this coming fall.