Özlem Cali, the artist and designer behind CALI, has been named a finalist for the Sustainable Entrepreneur Award (Prix de l'Entrepreneuse Durable) at the Womenpreneur Awards 2026, presented by Belfius.
We're not going to pretend this is a trophy for "being sustainable" in the abstract — it's a recognition of how CALI has actually worked since Özlem founded the brand in Brussels: natural fabrics, hand-painted details, small-batch production, nothing made to be thrown away after one season. The category exists to highlight entrepreneurs building that way on purpose, not as a marketing layer added afterward.
What the Womenpreneur Awards Are
The Womenpreneur Awards are organised by Womenpreneur Initiative, in partnership with the City of Brussels, Belfius, the Loterie Nationale, and MABRU. The 2026 edition recognises women entrepreneurs across four categories: Sustainable Entrepreneur, Social Entrepreneur, Tech & Innovation Entrepreneur, and a Public's Choice award.
Özlem is one of three finalists shortlisted for the Sustainable Entrepreneur Award, alongside Pauline Dornat (founder of Blackwool) and Victoria Diyakova (director of Réconfort+).
Why This Category, Specifically
CALI has never marketed itself around sustainability buzzwords, mostly because the word has been stretched thin by brands using it as decoration rather than a production choice. What hasn't changed is the actual practice: cotton, wool, and linen only, hand-painted and finished piece by piece in Brussels, in quantities small enough that no two items are exactly alike. That's the slow fashion approach we've written about before — read more in The Link Between Sustainable Fashion and Wellness and Why Choose Natural Fibres Instead of Polyester.
Being shortlisted for a Sustainable Entrepreneur award doesn't change how CALI makes anything. It's simply the first time that approach has been evaluated against other Brussels entrepreneurs doing comparable work, outside of a sales context.
The Final: What, When, Where
📅 2 November 2026 🕞 18h00 – 21h30 📍 Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles, 1 Grand Place
The evening opens with welcome drinks from 17h45, followed by opening remarks from Sana Afouaiz, founder of Womenpreneur Initiative, and Didier Wauters, Echevin des Affaires Économiques for the City of Brussels. A panel on entrepreneurs' mental health runs from 18h30 to 19h15, with Hasna Jalab (Deep Inside), Marie-Ange Tulikumwe (Maelis Headwrap), Julie Denis, and Laila Ben Bella. The four category awards are presented between 19h15 and 20h, with the Sustainable Entrepreneur Award presented by Belfius. The evening closes with drinks and networking until 21h30.
Following Along
We'll share the result after the ceremony on 2 November in our social media channels. In the meantime, you can follow updates on Instagram @cali_label, or browse the collection that's actually up for consideration: hand-painted dresses, scarves, hats, and jewellery, made the same way regardless of what's decided on the night — see the full collection.
FAQ
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What are the Womenpreneur Awards?
An annual awards programme run by Womenpreneur Initiative, in partnership with the City of Brussels, Belfius, the Loterie Nationale, and MABRU, recognising women entrepreneurs across sustainability, social impact, tech, and a public vote. -
What award is Özlem Cali a finalist for?
The Sustainable Entrepreneur Award (Prix de l'Entrepreneuse Durable), presented by Belfius, recognising entrepreneurs whose production model is genuinely built around sustainability rather than marketed around it. -
When and where is the ceremony?
2 November 2026, 18h00–21h30, at the Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles, 1 Grand Place. -
Who are the other finalists in this category?
Pauline Dornat, founder of Blackwool, and Victoria Diyakova, director of Réconfort+. -
Does this award change anything about how CALI makes its products?
No. CALI's production — natural fabrics, hand-painted details, small-batch finishing in Brussels — predates this nomination and isn't changing because of it, win or not.
