Backstage at Buzigahill Fall/Winter 2026 - RETURN TO SENDER 12

As the vibrant pulse of Berlin Fashion Week reverberated through the city, BUZIGAHILL’s latest collection: RETURN TO SENDER 12, was unveiled in a spectacular display during INTERVENTION. Captured beautifully by Shin Jeong Hoon, this collection is a poignant homage to the rich tapestry of East African heritage.

When millennial East Africans revisit vintage photographs of their grandparents, joyously dancing on polished parquet floors or posing with vintage Citroëns and Beetles against a backdrop of brilliantly blooming bougainvillaea, one can’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia. Something is captivating about that wooden floor, their natural hair, and the flared legs of their trousers that evokes a desire to reconnect with the liberating spirit of post-independence.

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All photos by Shin Jeong Hoon
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The story unfolds in a historical context; Uganda’s independence came in 1962, followed by Kenya’s in 1963. This era was marked by groundbreaking cultural shifts, as visionary figures like Ugandan playwright Robert Serumaga captivated audiences worldwide with abstract narratives, while Kenyan literary luminary Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o published A River Between. Textile factories flourished amidst this backdrop, even if predominantly managed by East African Indian proprietors.

Our grandparents’ styles may have drawn inspiration from afar. The automotive icons, the Citroën and the Beetle, were certainly not indigenous, nor was the modernist architecture. Yet, they exuded a sense of freedom and reclamation, symbolising advancement and individuality. Wide collars and bell-bottoms, devoid of today’s ubiquitous logos, framed those triumphant figures.

RETURN TO SENDER 12 masterfully reconnects us with the promise of the 60s and 70s in East Africa, diving into themes of ownership and identity. The narrative fluidly transitions from Uganda to Kenya, where containers filled with second-hand clothes arrive at the port of Mombasa, destined for reinvention. This collection bridges past and present, linking our grandparents to today’s fashion rebels, like the boda boda riders. Through their unique alterations, they transform these second-hand garments imported from the Global North, infusing them with local flair and making them distinctly their own.

In this season’s collection, BUZIGAHILL challenges us to reflect on the cyclical nature of fashion and identity, celebrating a vibrant history while boldly carving out a future.