---
title: "From Fast to Sustainable: Meet the 2025 Emerging Innovator of the Year"
description: Megana Madhurakavi, 2025 Emerging Innovator of the Year, champions sustainable fashion with her eco-friendly brand.
image: https://horn.udel.edu/hubfs/EIA-%20graphic%20Meghana.jpg
---

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## From Fast to Sustainable: Meet the 2025 Emerging Innovator of the Year

by [Horn Entrepreneurship](https://horn.udel.edu/author/horn-entrepreneurship) • September 29, 2025

![EIA- graphic Meghana](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/EIA-%20graphic%20Meghana.jpg?width=1200&height=628&name=EIA-%20graphic%20Meghana.jpg)

Megana Madhurakavi was just 14 when she decided that she wanted to “break free from the clutches of fast fashion,” she writes on[https://shopliila.com](https://shopliila.com/), the website for her sustainable clothing.

“Like any teen, I was obsessed with shopping and fast fashion,” she said in an interview during Horn Entrepreneurship’s first Limitless World Summit, where she won $5,000 for being named the 2025 Emerging Innovator of the Year.

The Emerging Innovator of the Year Award is given annually to high school students from around the world whose extraordinary efforts are making positive impacts in their schools and communities and helping to drive societal advancement. More than 350 young people applied in 2025 to be recognized as Emerging Innovators—students whose bold ideas and initiatives are driving positive change

### Redefining Fashion for a Better Planet

A student at Robbinsville High School in New Jersey, Megana soon became deeply concerned about the child labor, carbon emissions, and waste associated with the fast fashion industry, where clothing often goes out of style as quickly as it is produced.

Her presentation at the Social Impact Investment & Sustainability Conference drew more than 5 million viewers. “It took a lot of courage to speak in front of so many people,” she said, “but with each conference – I’ve attended more than 50 – it’s gotten easier to tell my story.”

“I started with dresses, because that’s what I wore,” Megana explained. But to expand her potential market, she pivoted to unisex, all-season hoodies.

Liila makes clothing out of ethically sourced fibers – most impressively, banana leaves and stems from India and bamboo from Indonesia – in small batches from workshops near where the fibers are sourced, with the artisans earning double the local minimum standard wage. The hoodies promote their eco-friendliness with a “For a better planet” message on the back.

So far, Liila has sold about 500 garments, with most of the revenue reinvested into the business. The venture has also experimented with upcycled fabrics and cruelty-free silk, with packaging that is biodegradable and BPA-free.

Her efforts have earned international recognition. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization named Megana the Global Youth Ambassador of Sustainable Development Goals & Carbon Neutrality Activity.

### Looking Ahead

Megana’s journey as an entrepreneur is just beginning, but her vision for sustainable fashion is already making an impact far beyond her community. In addition to speaking on world stages, she pursues opportunities to connect with middle and high school students, building awareness that “fashion does not have to harm our planet.” Through these efforts, she is not only growing a business but also cultivating a movement – leading a new generation of consumers and inspiring others to take action toward a more sustainable future.

The Emerging Innovator of the Year Program continues to spotlight young changemakers like Megana, providing them with resources, recognition, and a global platform to amplify their ideas. Applications for the 2026 recognition are now open, with a deadline of November 1, 2025. Learn more at emerginginnovatorawards.org. 

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