Esther Perbandt Breaks the Wheel

Esther Perbandt, a born and raised Berliner, draws inspiration from her hometown, but also from the years she lived and studied abroad. “I was toughened in Moscow and polished in Paris,” she says. These varied experiences add up to a signature aesthetic that she describes “elegant rock-n-roll.” Her spring 2015 collection was inspired by a specific moment in time: when she felt exhausted by the “hamster wheel” of the fashion industry. Titled “Tears for the Impatient,” the collection—which includes sheer, painted fabrics, lattice woven separates, painted denim, and pops of color—was broken up into three blocks of black, white, and stripes, also accompanied by an original score by German composer Sven Helbig.