Essentiel Antwerp
Established · $200–$400 · Antwerp, Belgium
Bold printed dresses, graphic knitwear and saturated color from Antwerp, where maximalism is the house rule.
Think: Bold prints, saturated color, playful silhouettes, Antwerp cool.
The buy: the printed midi dress
What to buy
the printed midi dress
Categories
Occasions
Why Essentiel Antwerp is worth it
Essentiel Antwerp puts print and color first, with graphic florals, beading and bold color clashes that make a simple shape feel like an occasion.
The house style is playful excess handled lightly: loud prints, unexpected color pairings and glass beads or rhinestones scattered over dresses, shirts and knits. Shapes stay easy, from relaxed shirt dresses to cropped cardigans, so the pattern carries the look. Fabrics run from crisp cotton to polyester and viscose blends, and every piece spells out its cut.
No Essentiel Antwerp picks right now
Nothing from Essentiel Antwerp is on the site at the moment. We watch their sales and new collections — when one lands it shows up in Drops.
Is now a good time?
The sale pattern
From 7 months of sale tracking.
It's been 13 weeks since the last one against a rhythm of about every 8 weeks — they're due.
- Runs a sale
- about every 2 months
- Last sale
- 3 months ago
- Typically claims
- 50% off
- Deepest claimed
- 70% offMay 2026
About Essentiel Antwerp
Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea started Essentiel Antwerp in 1999 with a handful of T-shirt styles in a rainbow of colors, their reply to a monochrome fashion scene. A year later they opened their first shop in Antwerp.
Esfan grew up around textiles, and Inge, a former model, had spent years in India falling for color and print. That mix became the label's signature: dresses, knits and jackets where pattern and color do the talking.
- Founded
- 1999
- Founded by
- Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea
- Based in
- Antwerp, Belgium
- Made of
- Cotton, polyester, viscose and wool blends, some with recycled polyester
- Shipping
- Ships to the US for $20, with no import duties due on delivery and sales tax added at checkout, in 6 to 12 business days; US returns within 30 days are free. It ships only to the EU and the US..
- Where to buy
- Essentiel Antwerp's own site
What shoppers say
From reviews and try-on videos, in our words.
- Fit
Sizing is European, from EU 32 to 44 (US 2 to 14). Each product page names the cut, close, relaxed or oversized, and the styles that run small say so and suggest going a size up.
- Fabric
Fabrics vary by piece: some dresses are pure cotton and machine washable, while beaded or printed styles are often polyester with viscose linings, and most knits are hand wash. Check the composition before buying.
- Shipping
US shipping is $20 and takes 6 to 12 business days. No duties are due on delivery, and sales tax is added at checkout. It ships only to the US and the EU.
- Returns
US returns are free within 30 days, by prepaid FedEx label or at its New York store, and refunds go back to your card. There are no exchanges, so reorder the size you need.
What Essentiel Antwerp is made of
Polyester · Cotton · Wool
- Natural
- 37%
- Plant-based
- 11%
- Synthetic
- 52%
Works most in: polyester, cotton and wool
From the fabric listed on 165 pieces · 100% of the range lists it · Checked October 2026
How we read itSee more brands that work in polyester & nylon →
How we'd wear Essentiel Antwerp
See all looks →
Essentiel Antwerp in our edits
View All Edits →
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Essentiel Antwerp, answered
- What is Essentiel Antwerp?
- Essentiel Antwerp is a womenswear label from Antwerp, Belgium, known for bold graphic and floral prints, bright color mixes and embellished dresses, knits and jackets.
- Is Essentiel Antwerp a good brand?
- Yes. We like it for joyful, print-led clothes: it has built its look on graphic florals and color clashes since 1999, and each piece states its cut, fabric and care.
- Who founded Essentiel Antwerp?
- Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea founded it in Antwerp in 1999, starting with a T-shirt collection.
- Where is Essentiel Antwerp from?
- It comes from Antwerp, Belgium, where it was founded and where its collections are designed.
- Does Essentiel Antwerp run true to size?
- It uses European sizing, EU 32 to 44 (US 2 to 14). Some styles run small, and their product pages suggest a size up.
- Does Essentiel Antwerp ship to the US?
- Yes. US shipping is $20, no duties are due on delivery, and sales tax is added at checkout. Returns from the US are free within 30 days.
- Where can I buy Essentiel Antwerp?
- On the brand's own site.
- When does Essentiel Antwerp go on sale?
- Across the 4 sales we have tracked, Essentiel Antwerp has run one about every 2 months. The last one was about 3 months ago.
- How much does Essentiel Antwerp discount?
- Their sale emails usually advertise about 50% off, and the most they have claimed is 70%, in May 2026. We have not measured it on the rack.
- What is Essentiel Antwerp made of?
- Across the 165 Essentiel Antwerp pieces we could read in October 2026, about 37% of the fabric is natural fibers, 11% plant-based fibers like viscose and 52% synthetic. The most common fabrics are polyester, cotton and wool.
- Which brands are like Essentiel Antwerp?
- If you like Essentiel Antwerp, look at Bimba Y Lola, PH5, GANNI and Simon Miller.