Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi presented Galib Gassanoff’s exhibition “Collection 05 – Borchaly,” which took place 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 the age of eighteen, he moved to Milan to study fashion, where he developed a design language that connects traditional heritage with contemporary expression, earning him international recognition.
In 2024, he founded INSTITUTION — a creative platform that expanded beyond fashion to function as a social and artistic project focused on cultural reflection, ethics, and collaboration with artisans. The brand received international recognition, including the 2025 CNMI Fashion Trust Grant and the 2026 Zalando Visionary Award.
Presented as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi, “Collection 05 – Borchaly” was inspired by the historical region of Borchaly, where the designer was born. The collection reflected on the social changes of the early 20th century and the theme of women’s emancipation, paying tribute to Peri-Khan Sofieva — one of the first elected Muslim women in the region. These themes were expressed through garments in which traditional forms of veiling gradually dissolved into contemporary silhouettes.
The collection emphasized craftsmanship, combining handwoven textiles and rugs created by Azerbaijani artisans from Borchaly with sculptural garments made from wool, leather, and natural fibers. During the exhibition, specially invited artisans from Borchaly demonstrated the live process of carpet weaving and shared their traditional craft with guests.