Going Backwards In Going Forward

Suisse, Swiss in French, spelled backwards is Essius, but there is nothing backwards about this young menswear luxury brand that was launched by entrepreneur Adel Najah in 2015.

- Sandra Iskander

Focusing on the precision of everything Swiss and the luxury connotation that comes with that, Adel wanted to create a brand that was not only fashionable but also in tune of what gentlemen look for when it comes to fashion. Pushing the boundaries of menswear, Essius combines sophistication, minimalism and creativity, and drawing inspiration from Swiss architect Le Courbusier for the rounded details of the house’s tailored suits is only one of the examples of how the house’s Artistic Director Youn Chong Bak’s talents are demonstrated, with her designs for the fashion house soft yet masculine, striking and new. Here Youn shares with us her inspirations for Essius, what drives her to design for men and her love for Paris.

How did you walk into the role of artistic director of Essius?

I had this idea about creating my own brand for a while before I met Adel. As we got introduced by a friend and shared our vision about fashion, we clicked and figured that our needs were complementary and my role as an artistic director for ESSIUS started at that point.

How would you describe your style when it comes to designing for men?

My style is rather unique since I’m practically one of the rare women that designs exclusively for men. That particular vision of how a piece is designed by me is that it starts from the shape and perfect fit, which I learned from the master [Francesco Smalto], and my creativity is shown in the details combined with technique.

How did you start working in fashion?

After my three years in studying fashion design and pattern-making where I specialised in menswear, I started as an assistant at Francesco Smalto, a house known for its bespoke and tailoring, where I had the chance to work next to the founder.

Which designers do you admire and influence you?