BEHIND UTI EXI

UTI EXI is a Berlin-based fashion label founded in 2021 that embraces the principles of upcycling to craft unique fashion creations while exclusively using existing materials.

The name UTI EXI stands for "uti existentium", Latin for "use the existing", and reflects our brand philosophy. Our mission is to transform the fashion industry by reducing the volume of discarded textiles and turning them into modern garments and accessories.

Each piece is one-of-a-kind and handcrafted in our studio, located in the heart of Kreuzberg. The team currently consists of fashion designer and manager Maya Köndgen, the founder of the label, as well as her intern Laurine. Additionally, former intern Daria regularly contributes her creative input to the label. Our team members are highly skilled in fashion design and garment construction, ensuring the exceptional quality of our products.

When it comes to sourcing fabrics, we carefully select vintage textiles, prioritizing natural fabrics like silk, linen, cotton, and wool over blends and synthetics. After our guiding principle is to avoid buying new and to utilize existing materials whenever possible, we occasionally use synthetic materials - e.g. nylon from old camping tents. The materials we use are either sourced through donations or carefully selected from the secondhand market.

The UTI EXI style is a blend of modern streetwear with an avant-garde twist. Our pieces are genderless and -inclusive, featuring adjustable pieces (like the SCARF-STYLE TOP) which fit various body types or straight cuts (like the MOHAIR ZIP-VEST) which can be worn both true-to-size and oversized.

Our category REWORKS contains items which undergo minor modifications without changing their original essence, such as the distinctive WRINKLE LOGO tops and our best-selling OPEN CUT TURTLENECK.
In addition to reworked items, we create REPURPOSES pieces, where we reimagine diverse textiles, from shower curtains turned into trousers to down vests transformed into bags. These items involve intricate pattern-making and extensive labor, placing them in a higher price segment.

At UTI EXI, sustainability and creativity go hand in hand, proving that fashion can be both eco-conscious and style.