As said before we are always stoked to receive emails from upcoming clothing brand with the question to check out their collection. Imtayaz Qassim is the owner of Esah clothing which is a clothing label from Cardiff, South Walles. We were really into the clean designs and were curious on how this brand got started in the first place. Check out the interview with Imtayaz Qassim about his brand: Esah Clothing.
1. Hello Imtayaz how are you?
Hi, fine thank you, yourself?!
2. Let’s start with a small introduction, who are the owners of Esah clothing and how did it all start?
I’m the one and only owner and designer of the brand. It all started a few months back when I was doing some research for a University project where we had to create a brand and I decided to develop that idea and make it reality.
3. Can you shortly describe what Esah clothing is, what makes you different than all the other small clothing brands out there?
Freedom, Culture and Exploration are the key factors that combine and create the fresh unique ideas that allow Esah to strive forward and provide individual, high quality casual garments. We gather inspiration from the Cultures, History and Nature that shape the World we live in. I aim to filter down all of my inspirations into a modern, high quality menswear brand that explores new and innovative ways of creating garments.
All of the screen printed products are hand printed by a professional company in Cardiff, South Wales, and all finishing and sewn products are hand finished by myself in house to ensure the best quality.
I aim to merge certain qualities of street wear with menswear, concentrating on quality and detail.
4. So with the brand you get inspired by other cultures, do you travel much to get that inspiration?
Ye, I travel whenever I can, at the moment its pretty hard because of Uni, work, and some other major commitments I have, I’m extremely busy! But I have just come back from spending a few weeks out in LA with friends which was amazing.
LA is the home of street wear so to be in that environment, seeing all the different brands, their stores and LA in general was a very inspiring and amazing trip!
5. What’s the story behind the brand name: Esah?
The name Esah comes from a saying that I have always stood by since I was really young, Exploration Starts At Home. Exploring and learning about the places you live in and things you come across everyday and then moving on and further out in to the World. Also to me it means finding different ways of creating new garments. With Menswear, a shirt is a shirt, a tee shirt is a tee shirt, but its about exploring and finding new ways of doing these things and putting your own stamp on it.
6. Could you tell us about the process of designing new shirts?
The process always and must start with research and inspiration. For example the first collection I have just released, S/S ’12, was inspired by one, the different cultures that I see everyday in the city I live in and two, exploring the idea of creating something different from what was already out there (The Esah pocket).
7. Do you run Esah full time or is it just a hobby?
I run Esah myself, I work part time as well as being a full time University Student, and any spare time in-between is spent on Esah. If you work hard and have a goal and a dream you will one day get there.
8. What are the plans for Esah clothing in 2012?
I have just released the S/S ’12 #1 which consisted of the three tee shirts and crew jumper. I am currently working on the next collection which consists of a lot more pieces than the last drop, and will be released quite soon, I’m very excited.
Other than that, this year there are a few events popping up around the country (UK) which I hope to be attending and also we were stocked in a local street wear store a week after releasing s/S ’12 and there another two or so on the cards so keep an eye for more Esah stockists!
9. Some of the biggest apparel brands started with only two shirts and are now grown in worldwide companies. How do you want to see Esah in ten years.
In ten years time I would like to see Esah still going strong, and ye Worldwide, with a few stores, thats the dream!
10. Where can we find more information about Esah Clothing?
The website www.esahclothing.com! From there you can link to our Facebook, Twitter, Blog etc and also Email me direct from the contact page, so if anyone has anything to ask please do so.
11. Any last words?
Thank you for the interview and the coverage. Thanks to everyone and anyone that has supported Esah over the last few months, and keep doing so.
If you haven’t then get over to the website and check us out!
