Esther Abena Sands is a Ghanaian American designer. Early exposure to diverse cultures in film and art as a child helped shape a love of stories and fashion. As her passion and curiosity for learning grew, she became self-taught through observation, experimentation and practice. As an adolescent, she would sit in the market, watching cobblers and seamstresses work and craft.
After relocating to the United States as a teen, Esther became exposed to the creative aesthetics of cosplay. A way to bring stories from movies, anime and videogames to life through character interpretation.
Her work is filled with cultural, traditional, movie and anime inspirations. She believes we are all heroes of our own cinematic universes and what we wear everyday is an interpretation of where we’ve been, where we are, where we are going and of our life experiences. Clothing can be a representation of self and of individuality.
