DANIEL ESSA
France
Daniel Essa is a French luxury sneaker brand founded by Syrian designer Daniel Essa, based in Lille. Its leather sneakers use a stretch fabric strip instead of laces.
| Founder | Daniel Essa |
|---|---|
| Base | Lille, France |
| Product | Luxury leather sneakers |
| Average price (2018) | About 330 euros |
What is Daniel Essa?
Daniel Essa is a luxury footwear brand from France, named after its founder, a Syrian designer who studied fashion in Damascus. He set up a workshop and shop in Damascus, left Syria in 2014 and settled in Lille.
Products and positioning
The brand makes high-end, fashion-focused leather sneakers with a stretchy fabric strip instead of laces. They average about 330 euros, and each pair carries a word under the tongue, such as Freedom, Kisses or Peace. A 2018 report said the boutique stocked 28 styles.
Distribution
In 2018 the brand was opening its first shop in Lille, with a concept store and boutique there. Its shoes were sold in Beverly Hills, Paris and Ajaccio, Corsica, to customers in Paris and Hollywood.
The brand is closely tied to its founder's personal story, which the press has covered as an example of a refugee entrepreneur building a luxury label in France.
Why it matters
Daniel Essa is a small, founder-led luxury sneaker label whose story links Damascus and Lille, and whose laceless design and message-bearing details set it apart in a crowded sneaker market.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Daniel Essa from?
Daniel Essa is a French luxury sneaker brand based in Lille, founded by a Syrian designer.
Who founded Daniel Essa?
The brand was founded by Daniel Essa, a Syrian designer who studied fashion in Damascus and moved to Lille in 2014.