Galib Gassanoff Collection 05 – Borchaly

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi presents Galib Gassanoff’s exhibition “Collection 05 – Borchaly” on May 7-10, 2026.

Galib Gassanoff is a designer whose work is rooted in cultural storytelling and identity. A Georgian of Azerbaijani descent, he grew up on the outskirts of Tbilisi in a multicultural environment that continues to shape his creative vision. At eighteen, he moved to Milan to study fashion, developing a design language that connects traditional heritage with contemporary expression, which has brought him international recognition.

In 2024, he founded INSTITUTION, a creative platform that goes beyond fashion to function as a social and artistic project focused on cultural reflection, ethics, and collaboration with artisans. The brand has received international recognition, including the 2025 CNMI Fashion Trust Grant and the 2026 Zalando Visionary Award.

Presented at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi, “Collection 05 – Borchaly” is inspired by the historical region of Borchaly, where the designer was born. It reflects on early 20th-century social change and women’s emancipation, paying tribute to Peri-Khan Sofieva, one of the first elected Muslim women in the region. These themes are expressed through garments where traditional forms of veiling gradually dissolve into contemporary silhouettes.

The collection emphasizes craftsmanship, incorporating hand-woven textiles and rugs made by Azerbaijani artisans from Borchaly, alongside sculptural garments in wool, leather, and natural fibers. At the exhibition, specially invited artisans from Borchaly will demonstrate the live process of carpet weaving and share their traditional craft with guests.