IAMISIGO Honored with 2025 Zalando Visionary Award for Pioneering African Craftsmanship and Sustainable Fashion Innovation

(IN BRIEF) Zalando has announced IAMISIGO as the winner of the 2025 Zalando Visionary Award, recognizing the Nigerian brand for its innovative blend of African artisanal craftsmanship and modern textile design. Founded by Bubu Ogisi, IAMISIGO will showcase its collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 with Zalando’s continued support, including financial assistance, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The award celebrates IAMISIGO’s commitment to ethical sourcing, community empowerment, and challenging fashion industry norms, particularly with its gender-neutral designs and magical, visionary aesthetic. The brand will receive a €50,000 prize, along with production support for its runway show.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERLIN, 31-Jan-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Zalando has proudly announced IAMISIGO as the winner of the prestigious 2025 Zalando Visionary Award. A trailblazing brand founded by Bubu Ogisi in Nigeria, IAMISIGO combines the rich traditions of African artisanal craftsmanship with forward-thinking textile innovation. The brand’s unique designs, which blend heritage and modernity, have made an indelible mark on the fashion industry, earning it recognition for pushing boundaries while preserving cultural legacies.

IAMISIGO’s full collection will be presented at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 this August, where the brand will receive continued support from Zalando, including financial backing for the show production and tailored mentorship to foster business growth. The Zalando Visionary Award, which recognizes innovation, design excellence, and social impact, continues to celebrate designers who challenge industry norms and inspire positive change in fashion.

The finalists for the 2025 award, including IAMISIGO, FEBEN, and Rave Review, were selected for their bold, inclusive creative visions. The jury praised IAMISIGO for its commitment to blending ethical sourcing with empowering local communities. The brand’s groundbreaking approach, which transcends gender norms and embraces designs for energies and spirits, offers a fresh, visionary perspective on fashion’s potential for transformation.

Zalando’s SVP of Design, Marketing, and Content, Anne Pascual, expressed her admiration for IAMISIGO’s work: “Congratulations to Bubu Ogisi and IAMISIGO for demonstrating authenticity and intent in their approach. This award is about celebrating those who innovate with purpose, and IAMISIGO is a perfect embodiment of that. We are thrilled to support such inspiring talent and look forward to a continued partnership to build a more inclusive and innovative fashion industry.”

Bubu Ogisi, founder of IAMISIGO, shared her gratitude, “I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition. This is just the beginning for IAMISIGO, and I am excited for what’s to come. Get ready for some magic in August!”

As the recipient of the Zalando Visionary Award, IAMISIGO will receive a €50,000 prize and essential production support for its runway show at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26. Additionally, the brand will benefit from mentorship and resources to help it scale its operations, with Dio Kurazawa, founder of Bear Scouts, stepping in as a dedicated mentor, providing valuable industry insights and guidance.

About Zalando

Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is Europe’s leading online multi-brand fashion destination. We are building a pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce, along two growth vectors: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B). In B2C, we provide an inspiring, high-quality multi-brand shopping experience for fashion and lifestyle products to more than 50 million active customers across 25 markets. In B2B, we leverage our logistics infrastructure, software, and service capabilities to support brands and retailers in managing and scaling their entire e-commerce business, both on and off the Zalando platform. Through our ecosystem vision, Zalando aims to enable positive change in the fashion and lifestyle industry.

Zalando Visionary Award 2025 Jury:

Edward Buchanan, Creative Director of SANSOVINO6 and Milano Fashion Director at Perfect Magazine
Emma Matell, industry-leading Casting Director
Giuliano Calza, Founder & Creative Director of GCDS
Herbert Hofmann, VP of Creative & Buying at Highsnobiety
Anne Pascual, SVP Design, Marketing and Content at Zalando SE

Media Contact:

Corporate Communications
press@zalando.com

SOURCE: Zalando