Stephane Park

1. From São Paulo to New York and now Copenhagen, your journey has spanned three very different creative capitals. Do you see a common thread between them? And what made Copenhagen feel like the place where both you and Aesther Ekme could truly belong?

While geographically distant, these three cities are connected by a shared, highly sophisticated community that values cultural depth and aesthetic curiosity. Aesther Ekme is inherently international, drawing its sense of form, purpose, and texture from each chapter of my life.

The visual language of the brand combines the raw, sculptural presence of Brazilian Brutalist architecture from São Paulo with the rigorous technical craftsmanship I developed during my womenswear studies at Parsons in New York. Copenhagen, however, provided the fertile ground where the brand could truly take shape. The Scandinavian appreciation for purposeful minimalism gave Aesther Ekme its structural identity, even as our team now operates primarily out of Paris.

2. Every local has their secret Copenhagen. Which neighborhoods do you return to most, and where would you take a first-time visitor to experience the city beyond the obvious?

My daily rhythm revolves around a familiar loop between Christianshavn, the city center (Indre By), Vesterbro, and Frederiksberg—the neighborhoods where both my home and studio are located. Having grown up in the large, dense environment of São Paulo, where cross-town journeys require careful planning and effort, I find Copenhagen remarkably accessible and compact.

One of its greatest advantages is that you can cross nearly the entire city on a straightforward 30-minute bicycle ride. For anyone visiting for the first time, my main recommendation is to avoid a rigid itinerary. Instead, explore as many neighborhoods as possible in a single day to experience the close-knit, understated coziness that characterizes the city's urban fabric.

3. What's your ideal Copenhagen day off—from your first coffee to your last stop before heading home?

If I were experiencing Copenhagen as a visitor, I would begin by staying at Kanalhuset in Christianshavn. Its spacious apartments, classic Danish interiors, and beautiful breakfasts capture the relaxed atmosphere that makes the city so appealing. I would start the day with a hammam treatment at Sofiebadet, Copenhagen’s oldest bathhouse, before heading for a coffee at Alice Bakery, a favorite among many local chefs. If time allowed, I would linger over brunch at the café inside Glyptoteket, overlooking its lush winter garden.

In the afternoon, I would slow down with a walk through Landbohøjskolens Have, the University Gardens next to my studio. It is one of my favorite places in the city—quiet, romantic, and where I often go to unwind. Another beautiful option is the Palm House at the Botanical Gardens, which offers a similarly inspiring combination of architecture and greenery. For dinner, I would choose Isola, a warm and intimate restaurant known for its welcoming owners, excellent wine selection, and beautifully sourced ingredients. To end the day, I would stop by Duck and Cover for a whiskey before heading home.

4. For a dose of culture, what never disappoints? Any galleries, museums, exhibitions, or creative spaces that you find yourself returning to?

There are a handful of places I return to again and again for inspiration, each offering a different perspective on art, design, and space. On weekends, I often visit Ordrupgaard and Finn Juhls Hus, both of which provide an exceptional experience of architecture, interiors, and the relationship between objects and their environment.

Among the city’s cultural institutions, Thorvaldsens Museum remains a favorite, as does CISTERNERNE, the remarkable underground exhibition space housed within a former water reservoir. I also find myself returning to the Palm House at the Botanical Gardens, where architecture and nature come together in a particularly beautiful way.

For contemporary art, I regularly visit galleries such as Nils Stærk, Nicolai Wallner, and Andersen’s Contemporary. And one of my more personal sources of inspiration is the library at the Royal Danish Academy, where I studied. It remains a place I love to revisit for its atmosphere, quietness, and sense of creative discovery.

5. The city's food scene has become a destination in its own right. Which restaurants, cafés, bakeries, or markets have earned a permanent place in your Copenhagen address book?

When it comes to food, I am always drawn to places where craftsmanship takes precedence over atmosphere. I tend to avoid venues built around a generic “Scandi-cozy-industrial” aesthetic and instead seek out restaurants and cafés that feel personal, intimate, and deeply committed to quality.

For coffee and pastries, Alice Bakery is a constant favorite and a place that many local chefs return to as well. For dinner, I gravitate towards restaurants where the focus is firmly on the ingredients, the cooking, and the overall experience. Places like Isola, Sushi Anaba, Goldfinch, Koan, Barabba, and Esmée have all earned a permanent place in my Copenhagen address book for exactly that reason.

And when the day comes to an end, nothing beats a quiet whiskey at Duck and Cover. It remains my favorite place in the city to unwind.

6. Aesther Ekme may be your baby, but are there any boutiques or concept stores in Copenhagen that you love to browse for inspiration—or simply for the pleasure of discovering something new?

I often find inspiration outside of fashion, particularly in places dedicated to vintage clothing, antiques, and historic design. Copenhagen has a remarkable culture of curation, and some of my favorite discoveries happen while browsing these spaces.

For vintage fashion, I regularly visit Bau Bau, which is often considered one of the city’s best menswear vintage stores, although I personally shop there quite a lot myself. I also enjoy Rosy Vintage and Paloma Vintage, both of which have a strong point of view and a carefully edited selection.

When I am looking for antiques, I love wandering through Thorvaldsens Plads Antikmarked, which remains a destination for serious collectors and enthusiasts. For design, Dansk Møbelkunst Gallery is an endless source of inspiration. Their approach to historical Danish furniture feels almost museum-like, with a focus on rare early-production pieces from the 1920s through to the 1970s. They present furniture not simply as objects, but as works of art.

7. And when city life calls for a reset, what are your favorite escapes beyond Copenhagen?

When city life calls for a reset, I am usually drawn to destinations that combine art, nature, and coastal stillness. One of my favorite escapes is Rudolph Tegner Museum & Statue Park, an incredible and dramatic retreat just north of Copenhagen.

I also love spending afternoons at the Children's Wing at the Louisiana Museum with my six-year-old daughter. It is a remarkable three-story space with open creative workshops where children can draw, paint, and sculpt, all while overlooking the museum’s serene Lake Garden (Søhaven).

For a change of pace, I often retreat to Sjællands Odde and the simplicity of a classic summer house on the peninsula. And when I feel like venturing a little further, Österlen in Sweden is always worth the journey. Just an hour and a half away, it is beloved for its beautiful beaches, dense forests, and sense of quiet escape.