ORYX: Isso vs World, a manifesto collection between desert, resilience and identity

Presented in Paris during Fashion Week, the ORYX FW 2026 collection marks a new stage in the world of Isso vs the World. True to his vision of committed and introspective fashion, Swiss designer Issowe Gabriele Assebou offers a powerful collection where craftsmanship meets symbolic storytelling, and where clothing becomes an act of resistance and identity.

A desert-inspired setting, far removed from clichés

ORYX takes its name from one of the world's most resilient antelopes, capable of surviving for months without water. This animal figure becomes the central theme of a collection conceived as a metaphor for human endurance. More than just a backdrop, the desert here is a mental space, a place of tension between extreme simplicity and inner richness.

“More than just a backdrop, the desert here is a mental space, a place of tension between extreme deprivation and inner richness.”

Rather than imitating desert aesthetics, Isso absorbs its philosophy: adaptation, dignity, resilience. ORYX does not reproduce the desert; it interprets it through protective silhouettes, intentional volumes, and materials that seem shaped by time.

Craftsmanship as a language of identity

Since the creation of Isso vs the World in 2020, craftsmanship has been at the heart of the project. ORYX confirms this radical approach: each piece is entirely handmade, reworked until it finds the right balance between the body, the garment, and the creative intention.

“Each piece is entirely handmade, reworked until it finds the right balance between the body, the garment, and the creative intention.”

Visible seams, hand-finished details, tactile surfaces: the details become traces, almost scars, evoking the passage of wind on sand. In a system dominated by rapid production, Isso champions slow, conscious, and sustainable fashion, where each garment carries an emotional weight.

Silent authority and controlled elegance

The ORYX women's collection is distinguished by a calm, almost sovereign power. Fluid lines embrace the body without ever confining it, while precise structures assert a strong presence.

“An elegance that asserts itself quietly, embodying these “Queens of the Desert”, central figures in the collection’s imagery.”

The evening gowns, both refined and sculptural, evoke a timeless femininity, far removed from any ostentation. An elegance that asserts itself quietly, embodying these “Queens of the Desert,” central figures in the collection's imagery.

Raw silhouettes and a return to the process

Men's clothing is developing a more rugged, almost defensive aesthetic. Volumes are more pronounced, silhouettes more angular, reflecting a constant tension between vulnerability and strength.

“Here, Isso rejects the logic of the finished product. ORYX menswear returns to the essence of clothing: the construction process, the transformation, the functionality.”

Here, Isso rejects the logic of the finished product. ORYX menswear returns to the essence of clothing: the construction process, the transformation, the functionality. Layering, contrasting materials, and utilitarian details create a fashion that is lived in, designed to last and face reality.

ORYX, an answer for our times

Beyond aesthetics, ORYX stands out as a contemporary reflection on identity. In a world saturated with images and consumption, Isso contrasts the emptiness of the desert with the inner richness of those who inhabit it.

With this FW 2026 collection, Isso vs the World confirms its place among the most interesting emerging designers on the current fashion scene. Conscious, committed, and profoundly human fashion, perfectly aligned with the editorial values ​​of The Céline Edit.