Without any prior knowledge of Iamisigo I took a seat on one of the tree trunk seats that surrounded a chrome pillar with gravel. A cool, but some cold setting in a factory hall. Very Copenhagen Fashion Week. What came on the scene was an excess of color, texture and general creativity, totally the opposite of the space in which the spring/summer 2026 collection of the brand was presented. It immediately became clear why this brand this year the Zalando Visionary Award has won.
Iamisigo is the justified winner of the Zalando Visionary Award
Creative director Bubu Ogisi Had a few months to set up an entire collection during Copenhagen Fashion Week. In January 2025 she defeated her fellow finalists Feben and Rave Review and won the Zalando Visionary Award 2025. This prize-including money amount of 50,000 euros and a year mentoring of Bear Scouts founder Dio Kurazawa-was created to bring a positive change in the area of support, creative change in fashion and endors’ change in fashion industries Social impact.
Bubu does all that with Iamisigo. The Nigerian creative person brings together craftsmanship and community by elevating the best raw materials from various African countries to art. Fabrics such as cotton from Uganda and Kenya, Sisal from Tanzania, Raffia and Jute from Nigeria focus on the inner of the people. They are textures that feel nice on the body. At the same time, metals and glass from Kenya and Nigerian plastics shine outside. Which, according to the brand, makes a ‘instrument of yesteryear’.
The term ‘portable art’ often comes up when people talk about fashion, but nowadays we rarely see – unless you go to the CoutureWeek in Paris. Bubu shows that with the simplest materials you can really make designs that stimulate the senses and make you hungry again to be creative with your own clothing and personal style. That gives hope for creativity in fashion.
Jury member Herbert Hofmann about Iamisigo
We spoke Herbert HofmannVP Creative and Buying at HighNobiety and jury member of the Zalando Visionary Award about the choice for Iamisigo as the winner. ‘We were blown over by Bubu’s creativity and vision for fashion and design. Her dedication to research and craftsmanship is unprecedented. I think the brand should continue to follow its feeling and keep the origin in mind to grow further. “
In his role in Highsnobiety, Herbert must always keep his eyes open for The Next Big Thing. What did he see in Iamisigo? ‘I look at brands that do their thing – when a designer knows what they want and have a clear vision of a person they want to dress. Sometimes I can be sucked into their world with just one image. You want that impact and I had that with Iamisigo. ”
