By Ela Casati | Fashion Journalist
What would fashion be like without new, independent brands run by young creatives? Perhaps it wouldn’t even exist, or at least not as we know it. When the establishment is already airtightly compressed and not many slots are available for what’s fresh, the results are worth watching and many times more interesting than whatever is already available to the masses. This fierce, uncompromising D.I.Y. spirit is embodied by Quentin Esser, one of the most promising German talents that made moves during last Berlin Fashion Week with a presentation in collaboration with jewelry brand 2819 at Monochrom in Weinmeisterstrasse.
Quentin started his brand in 2024, shortly after he discovered he not only likes clothes, he has a knack for constructing them. “As I got more into fashion and clothes, I realized that I couldn’t find things that were special for me, so I decided that I wanted to make them and reflect the type of worlds I wanted to create”, he reminisced about his beginnings. His inspiration ranges from the legendary avant garde store Darklands in Berlin, the quintessential techno scene with its dystopian atmosphere, and cult film Suspiria by Luca Guadagnino.
Quentin and his commitment to independence are not only aesthetic, but also in terms of how he envisions his future as a creative. When asked about working for a big house, he sharply declares that this isn’t something he would quickly consider. “I would stick to my brand. For me, true designers are artists who have their own vision. Clothes should be for the people and not for the brands, so I want to make clothes that people actually wear and my vision is very abstract about it.” He is also very aware that there is effort and mental endurance that anyone must have in order to fully materialize this idea: “I’d say having an independent brand is not for the weak because it’s really hard work. All your resources, your energy, your money go into it.”
The details in Quentin Esser’s pieces are conspicuous in a dark yet elegant way. They don’t scream in your face, but rather whisper in your ear in a way you can’t stop looking at them once you see them. Printed crosses that you can only see under the right lightning, 3D embroidery that looks like alien body parts, waxed denim. There is a strong emphasis on textured finishings that complete the idea of creating an aesthetic world that is both wearable and dystopian, in the best sense of the word.
Although Quentin’s vision is clearly defined as it stands now, he is open to change. “My ideal customer is someone who wears mostly black and who are really into the materials I use. That’s for now but it can change, because I do very abstract things at the moment and I want to make them more wearable.” This evolution for Quentin Esser as a brand and Quentin Esser as a creator will definitely be something to keep an eye on in future seasons.
Photos: Courtesy of Quentin Esser
www.quentinesser.de
@quentinesser
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