Fashion brand loved by celebrities opens second shop in Hampstead

Essentiel Antwerp opened in Hampstead High Street on December 20, with crowds popping in to get reduced price colourful clothes and accessories.

The Belgian fashion label was co-founded by Esfan Eghtessadi, the son of designer Nicole Cadine and Inge Onsea, a former fashion model for Maxmara.

Store manager Genevieve Jones said they were surprised by the number of people coming in when they opened as they had not advertised.

“The first day was incredible,” she said. “We figured it being a holiday and people being abroad it would be really quiet but our best day was our opening day.

Essentiel Antwerp offers a splash of colour on Hampstead High Street which draws customers in (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

“The shop really explodes with colour, it intrigues people and they come in.”

The label has built up an A-list following, with actor Helena Bonham Carter an early customer at the new shop.

Essentiel Antwerp manager Genevieve Jones with the store’s currently most popular item from the winter collection (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Other celebrities fond of the brand include actor Nicole Kidman, beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall, models Vogue Williams and Elle Macpherson, singer Rita Ora and Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden.

Essentiel Antwerp began in 1999 with a small T-shirt collection but has grown into a complete ready-to-wear women’s collection sold across Europe.

A colourful dress soon available in Essentiel Antwerp’s spring collection in Hampstead (Image: Nathalie Gabay)

There is just one other UK store in Sloane Square on King’s Road.

Genevieve said Essentiel Antwerp Hampstead has five designers creating the collections with bespoke pieces in store.

Essentiel Antwerp’s plush fitting rooms in its Hampstead store which has soft leather seating and signature pink carpets (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Bright garments line the walls and the changing rooms have soft leather stools and the brand’s signature pink carpets. 

Customer service is tailored to each person who walks through the door. 

Essentiel Antwerp’s colourful collections line the walls (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Genevieve added: “People come in wanting to learn more about the collections and the individual pieces.

“Our best promotion has been word of mouth.”

Co-founder and chief executive Esfan said: “We’re thrilled to open our new store in Hampstead, a neighbourhood that means a lot to me personally.

“I’ve always loved its unique charm and atmosphere, and it’s close to my heart because my parents got married here in the 1960s.” 

Essential Antwerp’s new Spring 25 collection will land in-store towards the end of January.

The store is open daily from 10am to 6.30pm.