Lian Original Wins the GBA 2026 in Two Categories

PRESS RELEASE
Vaduz / Berlin, 29 June 2026

The Liechtenstein premium label prevails against 1,676 entries from 12 countries in the anniversary edition of the most prestigious brand award in the DACH region — recognised for Fashion and Brand Innovation of the Year.

---

Lian Original, the Vaduz-based premium label for leather goods and fashion, has received two awards at the German Brand Award 2026 in Berlin, both in the Excellent Brands competition class: in the categories “Fashion” and “Brand Innovation of the Year”. Founder and owner Lian Ospelt travelled personally to the gala at the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin to accept the prizes on 25 June 2026.

Recognition in the Anniversary Edition of the German Brand Award

The German Brand Award celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2026. Under the motto “Brand Forward”, the prize — organised by the German Design Council — received 1,676 entries from 12 countries, one of the most international editions in its history. A 17-strong expert jury drawn from business, brand strategy, communications and culture, which convened in Frankfurt in March 2026, decided on the awards. Lian Original prevailed in this field against global players such as Deutsche Telekom, Swisscom and established consumer goods brands.

The German Brand Award is one of the most important brand prizes in the German-speaking world. Since its premiere it has grown from an industry gathering of 250 guests into an international platform for brand management, today bringing together more than 750 decision-makers from industry, the Mittelstand and the creative sector.

Jury Rationale: Conviction and Systemic Innovation

In the “Excellent Brands – Fashion” category, the expert jury highlighted consistency as the central brand value. Lian Original sets itself apart in a premium market defined by rapid cycles and trend-driven thinking not through artificial staging but through genuine conviction. The founder’s personal signature defines a consistent creative direction that runs across clothing, shoes and accessories.

The award as “Brand Innovation of the Year” recognises the label’s holistic approach. The jury emphasised that ecological and social responsibility at Lian Original are structurally embedded: through a demand-led ordering system that avoids overproduction, European manufacturing in Italy, a transparent donation model and the active involvement of the community in brand decisions. The brand’s values are credibly present at every touchpoint.

From Hidden Gem to a Benchmark in Conscious Luxury

The double win in Berlin is part of a clear international trajectory. At the end of 2025, Lian Original became the first label from the Principality of Liechtenstein to receive the Luxury Lifestyle Award as “Best Luxury Niche Fashion Brand”. Where that recognition centred on the craftsmanship and niche identity of the handmade leather shoes, the German Brand Award now places the strategic brand management at the centre.

The label has made the leap that few niche brands manage: from international recognition for product quality to recognition as a model system — a brand that proves luxury, transparency and responsibility are not contradictions.

“Being recognised twice in such a demanding field, surrounded by absolute industry heavyweights and evaluated by a high-calibre expert jury, is an extraordinary validation. It shows that quality, longevity and transparent processes — values deeply rooted in our Liechtenstein DNA — carry international relevance. This success is also a signal to other innovative companies from our country to take the bold step beyond their borders.”

— Lian Ospelt, Founder and Owner, Lian Original

An Entrepreneur with Conviction

Behind Lian Original stands a founder whose path is as unlikely as it is consistent. Lian Ospelt, 32 years old, grew up in Vaduz and has always treated the Principality not as a limitation but as a starting point. When his first company, Lian Management, suffered under the economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, he used the forced pause not to consolidate but to build: Lian Original was founded in 2020 out of the conviction that fashion, too, can carry a deeper purpose.

That commitment to meaning runs through both companies. For Ospelt, business success is not a matter of growth figures alone but of customer satisfaction as a strategic foundation: those who offer their customers genuine value create the only form of success that endures. At Lian Original, this philosophy is expressed in every detail — from the Made-to-Order production system and the transparent donation model to the involvement of the community in brand decisions.

The German Brand Award now places Ospelt in the international spotlight as a creator who demonstrates that ambitious entrepreneurship from the smallest country in the German-speaking world can set global standards.

Signal for Liechtenstein as a Business Location

The success carries a significance that reaches beyond the world of fashion. Liechtenstein is traditionally known for its strong industrial base and financial sector. Lian Original shows that the Principality’s creative economy competes at an international level and sets a benchmark for other companies willing to step onto the global stage.

Expansion and Further International Nominations

The awards from Berlin are not an endpoint. The label is working on expanding its range into new product categories, including fragrance and watches, as well as two new collections: one for Winter 2026 and one for Summer 2027. Alongside this, the development of further European core markets remains a priority. Lian Original is also in the final stages of two further global nominations: the International Sustainability Award 2026 and the Global Elite Award 2026 in the category “Leading Sustainable Leather Goods Brand”. Both decisions are expected in the coming months.

“The awards from Berlin are a tremendous personal motivator. We have proven that our system works. We want to show what a modern, transparent and responsible luxury industry can look like.”

— Lian Ospelt

---

About Lian Original

Lian Original, headquartered in Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein, stands for the combination of timeless design, European craftsmanship and uncompromising quality. The label produces Made-to-Order — without overproduction, without compromise. All products are made in European workshops, including handwork in Italy. A transparent donation model and the active involvement of the community in brand decisions are integral to the business model. Lian Original represents a new generation of luxury: responsible, enduring and clearly positioned.

Press Contact
Lian Original
Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein
Email: info@lianoriginal.com
Phone: +423 220 23 00
Website: www.lianoriginal.com

Photography from the award ceremony and product images are available on request.