H&M’s UK division has launched its new annual Sustainable Fashion and Journalism Awards with the aim to encourage the next generation of fashion leaders to further engage with sustainability and accelerate the shift to circular fashion.

A stipend, additional networking and visibility possibilities, as well as support for their collections and degree projects, are all given to the first four scholarship winners.

To kick off the effort, the store teamed up with the fashion institute Central Saint Martins (CSM). Josh Woodend, a communication expert for H&M UK and Ireland, and three of CSM's course leaders will serve on the awards' judging panel.

The winners this year were Ciaran Griffiths for his menswear collection exploring queer culture, fashion design winner Daniel Fabara for his Colombian heritage collection Anakull, and fashion journalism student Ella Dewberry for her circular fashion platform Plexa.

Max Brewer also received recognition for their Angels line of women's clothing, which was created in association with Care Opticians and Ace&Tate and featured headpieces fashioned from recycled lenses.

During a Sustainable Exhibition visited by the press, businesses, stylists, and design teams, winners had the opportunity to showcase their collections and projects.

Throughout August and September, collections will also be shown in the store window at H&M's Oxford Circus location.

According to Judith Watt, panelist and fashion journalism pathway leader at CSM, it has been amazing to connect with H&M UK from the very start, and so vital in terms of cultivating young journalistic talent.

Watt continued that this collaboration with H&M UK is extremely exciting because it shows an appreciation of the necessity of knowledgeable, specialized fashion journalists in the realm of climate change and the circular economy.