Overproduction in fashion is one of the biggest environmental threats. At ESSEN we believe in On-Demand manufacturing – a responsible business model that rewards responsible shopping and eliminates overproduction.

Most fashion brands produce large quantities of inventory to lower unit costs, but this often results in unsold stock at the end of the season. These excess products are discounted, marked down repeatedly, and if they still don’t sell, they’re frequently discarded in landfills or even burned — practices that contribute significantly to pollution.

At ESSEN, we take a different approach. We embrace on-demand production — making pieces only when they’re truly needed. Instead of guessing demand, we produce only what has already been sold. This allows us to use resources responsibly, reduce waste, and avoid overproduction.

When you pre-order a pair of ESSEN shoes, they’re made especially for you. This not only ensures a thoughtful, minimal-waste process, but also gives you a voice in shaping our designs, as together we determine the most considered production levels.

First, we show you our new releases early on in the process and make them available for pre-order on our website. By subscribing to our newsletter you’ll receive an exclusive 20% discount during the first two weeks of the pre-order phase. If you haven’t already, sign up below.

After two weeks, we calculate exactly how many pairs of each style, size and colour we need to make and begin manufacturing with a much better understanding of what we’ll actually need. This allows us to minimise waste and overproduction and to use our resources smarter.You can still pre-order during the production phase, but the discount will drop to 15%.

Producing shoes on-demand allows us to keep our handcrafted shoes at a competitive price point. On-demand eliminates overproduction and minimises waste up to 90% compared to traditional processes. This means lower costs per pair, and a better price for you.