Institution Debuts at Copenhagen Fashion Week as Zalando Award Winner

SCANDI VISION: Zalando brought its 2026 Visionary Award program to the runway at Copenhagen Fashion Week as the Milan-based brand Institution made its runway debut with its spring 2027 collection.

The show marked the latest stage of the initiative’s development after the brand, founded by Azerbaijani designer Galib Gassanoff, was named the winner earlier this year.

As part of the prize, Institution received a 50,000 euro grant, ongoing mentorship and business acceleration support, as well as production support for the runway debut at Denmark’s National Gallery.

Titled “Yad,” an Azerbaijani word meaning both “stranger” and “memory,” the collection traced the journey from raw materials to finished garments while exploring themes of belonging and cultural heritage.

Developed in collaboration with artisans from the region where Gassanoff grew up, the designer combined contemporary tailoring with handcrafted knitwear and sculptural cotton-rope pieces. Models walked barefoot in handmade jorabs, referencing the Caucasian tradition of removing shoes before entering a home.

“The passion and creativity of Galib Gassanoff shines through in every piece of this collection,” said Zalando vice president of global marketing Sara Spannar, who also served as a member of the jury.

“His commitment to craftsmanship and storytelling perfectly embodies the spirit of the Zalando Visionary Award,” she added.

Inside Zalando’s Visionary Space exhibition.

Courtesy of Zalando

Alongside the show, Zalando opened its Visionary Space at Copenhagen Contemporary, a two-day public exhibition featuring installations, workshops and works by this year’s winner alongside previous recipients Iamisigo, Paolina Russo and Sinéad O’Dwyer, including a large-scale digital and sculptural installation by Brazilian artist Gabriel Massan.

The Visionary Award builds on Zalando’s long-standing partnership with Copenhagen Fashion Week, which began in 2020 with the Zalando Sustainability Award. Relaunched as the Visionary Award in 2023, the program broadened its focus from sustainability to recognizing emerging designers whose work combines creativity, innovation and positive social impact.