ABOUT
Essien and Emre Luxury Knitwear based in London...Being mindful whilst creating statement pieces to be kept and cherished...taking fashion at a slower pace, appreciating the time it takes to create and to make. Embracing both tradition and new technology to deliver heritage charm in a modern language. Designing classic knitwear pieces with a twist on silhouette, and experimenting with imagery to create organic abstraction enhanced with contemporary colour mix.
THEIR STORY
Fong and Sonny lived five minutes from each other in the near by neighbourhood but did not meet until art college, stemming from similar background and up-bringing created an instant connection. They both arrived in England in the early 80s after the struggle and sacrifice their parents went through when made to leave Vietnam. Knowing what it is to have nothing, their parents mentality is to have value in everything and make it last for as long as possible. This has profoundly shaped the way in which Fong and Sonny live and work, and is reflected in their practice with the respect they have for the endeavours of their crafts people and the environment, the time they invest in the intricate making process and the value they place on their resources with deliberate elimination of mass production.
The true appreciation and confident to explore the world of art and design started during their time at UAL, whilst Fong found her love for knitwear at Central Saint Martins, Sonny found his in fine art and graphics at Camberwell. Their journey and experiences have given them the rigour of practice that has come to underpin their brand.
Together since art college, bound together by love of family, art and design, and although they’ve come a long way from where they started, they are still based just a stone’s throw away from where they first arrived.
