Southampton designer Esé Azénabor sets out to 'empower women' through fashion
When Esé Azénabor, a Nigerian-born fashion designer, rests her eyes, she dreams in textiles and colors. "You do not want to live in my head," Azénabor says.
That might be true, but plenty of folks are happy to wear her clothes.
The designer, 40, recently made the commute from her eponymous Southampton boutique to present a full-fledged runway show on the rooftop of Rockefeller Center during New York Fashion Week in September. Azénabor, whose headquarters are in Dallas, and who also has a Manhattan store, has summered in the Hamptons for the past couple of years since opening her seasonal store there. She stays in the Shinnecock area, which, she says, "is nice and relaxing and I don’t feel stressed when I’m here. I love it."
Esé Azénabor's storefront in Southampton is open seasonally. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Apparently, when it comes to her customers there, the feeling is mutual. Particularly popular among her Southampton clients are minidresses, short sets and long-sleeved dusters. There’s an appreciation for her style, Azénabor says, "It’s very forward, edgy and sexy, with a hint of timelessness. My evening wear is vibrant, and, being born in Nigeria, I’m attracted to color and dramatic materials."
Besides some very upscale Long Island clients (her collections are quite high-end, geared for once-in-a-lifetime purchases and range from $800 to $2,500 for ready-to-wear and $3,500 to $15,000 for couture), devotees include Tyra Banks, Taraji P. Henson and Vivica Fox. She has hopes of someday dressing her "dream client": Beyoncé. "I love her style of music and dressing," Azénabor says, "and she just reminds me of me. She’s a woman that doesn’t stop working."
Azénabor believes that her designs "empower women," she adds. "I see this every day. Someone could walk into the store with their shoulders down and the moment they put on a beautiful dress their confidence level skyrockets."
Garments at the Esé Azénabor store are intended to "empower women," the designer says. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Among her fans is fashion expert Constance C.R. White, of Baldwin, author of the book "How to Slay: Inspiration From the Queens and Kings of Black Style" (Rizzoli International Publications, $55). "Esé’s designs have an exuberance and joy to them," White says. "She uses color, print and embroidery beautifully emphasizing traditional femininity ... And she executes it all with meticulous quality."
In fact, White was one of the models on Azénabor’s 62-look NYFW runway that featured everything from mini coat dresses to blown-out ballgowns, many heavily embellished. Included in the diverse lineup? Runway icon (and Halston muse) Alva Chinn.
Potential customers can test out styles when her Southampton shop reopens in May.
Esé Azénabor, 101 Jobs Lane, Southampton, eseazenabor.com. Open seasonally.