Based in Antwerp, Henriette Ernst is a German fashion designer with over twenty years of international experience in design and branding. Maintaining an influential, behind-the-scenes role throughout her career, Henriette is deeply respected within the industry for her distinct aesthetic, creative approach, and focused methodology. Her visionary style infuses elements of simplicity, functionality, craftsmanship and innovation as she uncovers, develops and strengthens the DNA of the brands she supports, ensuring consistency and authenticity to ultimately drive awareness and sales.
Growing up in Berlin in an academic and artistic home, Henriette was deeply inspired by her family’s architecture and design background related to the Bauhaus. The movement’s dedication to timeless, handcrafted perfectionism and a harmonious union of art and design continues to inspire her today. Henriette has also been greatly influenced by the vibrant and rebellious nature of the streets in Berlin during the 1970s and 1980s. This wild freedom has given her the ability to easily tap into a state of mind where there are no limits to what can be created. These combined experiences have greatly informed her ability to effortlessly balance the dualistic nature of style throughout her work.
Henriette’s critical eye and remarkable skill with color and timing, and her innate instinct of what’s next, have led her to develop countless concepts, materials and designs that were not only unique for each brand, but also influenced the business of fashion over the last two decades. Her instinctual feel for and knowledge of fabrics and the deep connections she creates with the artisans and weavers she works with infuses her overall approach and design concepts.
Through her career, Henriette has worked in the luxury market with designer brands such as Céline, Jil Sander, Calvin Klein Collection and Dries Van Noten. She has not only led design teams to grow successfully, but she has also placed her own creative fingerprint on countless memorable collections by being a strong force and supporter of each of the brand’s creative directors, including some of today’s most influential and globally recognized fashion designers, including Raf Simons, Phoebe Philo, Francisco Costa and Dries Van Noten, among others. With her passion, impeccable taste and commitment to perfection, Henriette has mentored and motivated countless young designers, and always strives to create, inspire and lead a team-driven culture.
Building on these designer brand successes and experiences, Henriette launched ROUND + SQUARE, the socially conscious, sustainable fashion brand, in 2016. Serving as the brand’s entrepreneurial Founder & Chief Creative Officer, she controls all aspects of the business which was conceived to benefit gender equality through the sale of her exclusive designs of unique organic cotton t-shirts and silk, cashmere and embroidered accessories (WWW.ROUNDPLUSSQUARECOM). ROUND + SQUARE takes a more mindful approach to style to help preserve the planet and our natural resources, while supporting causes which are personally important to Henriette. The brand’s inaugural giving partner was the human rights organization, Equality Now, which continues to receive 10% of the brand’s sale proceeds. The brand was first introduced at the non-profit’s annual fundraising event in Los Angeles with influential supporters including Gloria Steinem, Maria Bello and Daphne Zuniga wearing items from the first collection.
Henriette also serves as an independent design consultant responsible for the overall direction of her client brands, as well as interpreting and distilling trends, elevating each brand’s aesthetic and working closely with the founders to clarify a brand’s signature identity. She consults closely with each brand’s teams to bridge design, production and merchandising to streamline processes, improve efficiency and communication, while mentoring and energizing talent.
Henriette graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium in 1994 with distinction in Fashion Design. She began working in New York City in 2012 before moving to Los Angeles in April 2017, and relocated back to Europe in 2020.
Photography by Richard Phibbs