INSTITUTION Wins the Zalando Visionary Award 2026

The Milan-based fashion label INSTITUTION has been announced as the winner of the Zalando Visionary Award2026, recognised for its deep commitment to craft, culture, and social responsibility.

Founded by designer Galib Gassanoff, INSTITUTION operates at the intersection of fashion and social practice. The brand sees itself not only as a fashion label, but as a cultural organisation rooted in ethical values. Drawing from Gassanoff’s Caucasian heritage, INSTITUTION works with traditional techniques, natural materials, and endangered crafts - giving them a place in contemporary design rather than letting them disappear.

The Zalando Visionary Award highlights designers who are actively shaping a more thoughtful and responsible fashion industry. INSTITUTION stood out for its clear artistic vision, strong craftsmanship, and its ability to connect cultural heritage with a modern, international design language.

As part of the award, INSTITUTION will present its Spring/Summer 2027 collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week this August. The show will be supported by Zalando through mentoring, casting, and financial backing - allowing the brand to fully realise its vision on an international stage.

Earlier this year, selected “hero pieces” from the three finalist brands were shown during Copenhagen Fashion Week, offering insight into their unique worlds. Alongside INSTITUTION, finalists KYLE HO and Milk of Lime were praised for bringing new perspectives to tailoring, sustainability, and the relationship between fashion, people, and nature.

For HAY-HAY, INSTITUTION represents exactly what the next generation of fashion should look like: design with purpose, respect for craftsmanship, and stories that go beyond surface-level aesthetics. It is a reminder that fashion can be a carrier of memory, culture, and social responsibility - not just a product.